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Street
of the Knights
the
period of the Knights from 1309 to 1522
The years when Rhodes was occupied by the Order of the Knights
of T.John could be consider as one ofe Rhodes most flourishing
periods. The Order had been founded as a philanthropic brotherhood
in Jerusalem by merchants from Amalfi, Italy who were permanent
residents of the Holy Lands. In time and particularly after
1099 when the Crusaders occupied Jerusalem, the Order gained
considerable strength and took on the character of a military
body under the control and the authority of the Church.
After
the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187 the Knights
shifted their base to Acre in northern Palestine, then to
Ptolemais and finally to Cyprus where King Henry II ceded
Limassol to them. they remained on cyprus for only 18 years
and they then settled on Rhodos in 1309 after overcoming
the inhabitants heroic resistance.
the
years that the Knights lived on Rhodes were the most brilliant
in their history, Immediately after completing their domination
of the island, the Order of the "Knigts of St. John
of Jerusalem, which was now called. The Order of the "Knights
of Rhodes" conquered the surrounding islands and also
held Smyrna for a long period.
They stayed on Rhodes for 213 years, that is until 1522
when on 29 hand the last Grand Master Philip de l'lsle Adam
was forced to hand over the town to the Sultan Suleiman
the Magnificent. The surrender occurred only after six months
of siege and their stiff resistance of the Knights who were
assisted by the Greek inhabitants of the island. After the
fall of Rhodes the Knights settled on Malta with the assistance
of Charles V (1530) and the Pope and from then on were called
the Knights of Malta.
The knights left imposing evidence of their time on Rhodes
and gave it its particular color witch the town still retains
in its impregnable walls, its gates. The churches and hospitals,
inns and the majestic palace.
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