Siege of Rhodes

Overview

The Siege of Rhodes of 1480 was the first and failed attempt by the Ottoman Empire to seize the island stronghold of the Knights of Rhodes from Rhodes, despite about 70,000 troops, they successfully defended the island.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

The Siege of Rhodes saw an Ottoman force recorded at 70,000 troops move against the Knights Hospitaller garrison of approximately 2,000 defenders under Pierre d'Aubusson, commanded on the Ottoman side by Mesih Pasha. Ottoman casualties of 9,000 indicate the siege exacted a substantial cost on the attacking force. Within the broader Ottoman Wars in Europe, Rhodes represented a persistent obstacle to Ottoman naval power in the eastern Mediterranean, and the Hospitallers' continued presence on the island after the engagement preserved a Christian military outpost that contested Ottoman maritime dominance in the region.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)