History of Rhodes incl Gates of the Old City

Article includes The Gates of the Old City http://history-pages.blogspot.gr/2012/11/blog-post_9.html

Pages of History and Science Translated from Greek by Google.

9 N O V 2 0 1 2

Rhodes - the island of knights

INTRODUCTION

The Old Town of Rhodes is a monument of medieval architecture, unique in the world and has been

designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, with a history that is lost in time. To take things from

the beginning, we need to see what exactly was the knights who formed the famous Order of St. John of

Jerusalem and how it eventually ended up on the island of Rhodes, where they created a unique medieval

city.

THE ORDER OF SAINT JOHN guild story begins at the end of the First Crusade, the conquest of

Jerusalem by the Crusaders in November 1100 Several earlier but in the Holy Land had been very active

the Benedictine monks. The rule of the Benedictine Order required its members, beyond the purely

religious duties, to care for their hospitality and the care of Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy

Land. More specifically, some merchants from Amalfi, Italy, since 1070, had created a large Jerusalem

seekers, dedicated to St. John the Merciful, for sick pilgrims, directing Benedictine monks. The 1099

Asylum gained autonomous status and the monks there serving excised from the Benedictines and named

Order of Monks caregivers. First head of the new battalion was Gerard Tum , who died in 1120.

He was succeeded by Frenchman Raymond du Puy , under the command of whose character and guild

structure changed radically. The event that led du Puy these changes seemed to be establishing, at the

same time, by his compatriot Hugh de Payens, a battalion of military monks, always in the doctrine of the

Benedictine Order, which he called the " Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon "or better

known today as the Order of the Knights Templar. Influenced by the fact the du Puy, shortly after he

founded the military arm of the Order of Friars cared and changed its name to the " Order of the Knights

of St. John . "

Characteristic of the new guild emblem was the cross of Auvergne or Malta. Many experts argue that the

symbols have their roots in Islamic mysticism, since the lines, except the cross, and form a star. Today we

meet and as an architectural element in buildings of Moors and Saracens, but as a decorative mosques in

Jerusalem, Damascus and Baghdad. In the next 50 years the Knights had mutated into a purely military

organization monks who answered only to the pope. Considered a "brother" battalion with the Templars

and their purpose was commonplace: the defense of the Holy Land from the Muslims and Arabs to protect

Christians pilgrims.

In July 1244, the Arabs conquered Jerusalem and eventually by 1291 the entire area of the Holy Land had

fallen into their hands. The Knights of St. John were forced to leave the area and settled for a time in

Cyprus. In 1307, the Genoese held island of Rhodes, unable to meet the Turkish advance the emirate of

Aydin, sold it together with Kos and Leros to the Hospitallers, who moved in 1309. Nearly two centuries

after, the foundation of the guild was transformed into a multinational fraternity, organized in

"Languages" or ethnicities. When the Knights arrived in Rhodes included the "Languages" of France,

England, Germany, Spain (Castile - Aragon), Italy, Provence and Auvergne.

Master of the Hospitallers in the 14th century

Three years after the establishment of the Knights Hospitallers in Rhodes, 1312, by order of the Pope,

King Philip of France proscribed the omnipotent Templars. Many fled to the Order of the

Hospitallers. The "new blood" who came to the Knights of St. John, except for the assets brought

(according to many historians) and the mystical knowledge of the Templars. So the island of Rhodes

evolved largely western occultism, at least support a number of experts in these matters.

Frankish Rule

The Knights took three years to establish their dominance in Rhodes, and initially faced limited revolt of

the population, who preferred the Turkish Latin rule. But then fortified in an exceptional way the city and

the base port extended to the rest of the Dodecanese (except Karpathos and Kaso was under Venetian

rule) and Bodrum, while the fleet were making their raids on Turkish-occupied coast of the eastern

Mediterranean from Asia Minor to Syria, Palestine and Egypt. Rhodes changed so in one of the bastions

of the West against Turkish expansion. The movement in the port of the island and multiplied lived period

of economic boom and prosperity. In the city of Rhodes built palaces and mansions of the Knights of

wealthy merchants, and the fortifications strengthened more and more. To meet the ever growing Turkish

threat, even the Grand Master in Rhodes brought the best techniques of the time to improve their

fortifications.

The biggest difference, however, the Knights with Greek population was religious, and had significantly

limit the religious freedom of orthodox, in an attempt to convert to the Church of Rome, while

cheirotonoumenos of the Patriarchate of Istanbul Metropolitan Rhodes was forced to remain outside

Dodecanese. The situation was defused after the Sessions of Ferrara and Florence (1438-39), where he

attended and signed the minutes of the metropolitan island of Nathaniel. Accordingly, the Greeks had the

right to follow their own religious traditions and to elect a religious leader, but who swore loyalty to the

Pope and the Grand Master of the Order of Chivalry. For two centuries, the knights managed to organize

the island in a virtually independent state and to change the appearance and character, not to come again

into conflict with the local population.

A TURKISH CAMPAIGN

The fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453 marked the beginning of the fall of Rhodes. The new rulers

of the region, who considered the Christian beachhead of Rhodes as a thorn in the side of their empire,

bring the target occupation of the island. In the first stage occupied one after the other castles of the

Hospitallers who were on the coast of Asia Minor, most importantly that of Bodrum. In 1480 the Turks

make the first attempt to conquer Rhodes. Disembarked on the island force of 70,000 men, led by

Admiral Exomoti and the great Vizier Pasha Mesich Palaeologus , and began the siege of the mighty

castle, which was defended by 600 Knights and 2,000 soldiers of various nationalities. The siege lasted

two months, but the city resisted the military led by Grand Master Pierre d 'Aubusson . Eventually the

Turks were forced to withdraw the siege and leave the island after the heavy losses that had their army.

Second TURKISH CAMPAIGN

Finally, in the summer of 1522 undertook a new campaign against Rhodes. This time the expeditionary

force consisted of 700 ships and 200,000 men, led by the sultan himself, Suleiman II the

Magnificent (1520-1566), who besieged the city from land and sea for six months. Despite the horrific

casualties (dead on each knight represented 73 dead Turks) persist in the siege. Eventually the Knights,

realizing that they could not hold the fort much longer, they came to an agreement with the besiegers to

withdraw to arms and their belongings. On January 2, 1523, the Knights with 4,000 Greek residents fled

the island and fled to Crete. [1] The Turks entered the city on January 1, 1523 and broke their fury on the

civilian population of Rhodes. The massacres and looting lasted for days and nights. Tradition says that

the sultan gave orders to stop the slaughter when he walked in and directed the Palace of the Grand

Masters of the Knights street, saw the legs of the horse are submerged to above the ankles to the blood

running in the street.

TURKISH

In this period the new rulers forced all Greeks who lived within the walls to leave their homes and settle

out of them, for fear of any rebellion. Thus formed various districts, the Marasia, which spread around the

walls and formed the basis of the new city. Inside the walls only had the Turks with their families. The

old street plan, with its narrow streets and Scola and small single-story houses with courtyard, there is

still the south Marasia. In the years that followed, the Palace of the Grand Masters was prison, while the

minarets of Turkish mosques piercing the sky Rhodes. Most churches were converted into mosques,

while those that survive today are distinguished: the mosque of Suleiman II the Magnificent , Ibrahim

Pasha (1531), Recep Pasha (1588), the mosque Ntemirli (old Byzantine church) and the mosque of Murad

Reis (the latin church of St. John).

MEDIEVAL The RODOS

The heyday of the medieval city of Rhodes was one of the most impressive in Europe. The first movement

of the knights, when they established their rule in Rhodes, was to strengthen the fortifications of the city

and the countryside, so that they can face any invasion. Fertile, rich and secure, the island was protected

50 villages of 11 castles, besides its great capital, a magnificent fortified whole of the rare world.

The strong walls of the city of Rhodes, double and even triple in some places, they have perimeter of 3.5

km. Outside there are deep moat, which in case of siege filled with seawater. Under the fortifications at

great depths is a system of galleries several miles long with secret exits at various points away from the

city. These galleries were built since antiquity and were used mainly in communication and the supply of

the besieged residents in times of war.

Inside the castle of Rhodes, built in a semicircle around the central harbor, commerce, the city was

divided into three unequal parts: the site of Government House, the highest part of the NW, the Castelo

Kollakio or right next door, where lived the knights and Bourgas region (Burg or Country) in the southern

and larger, inhabited by Greeks, and Franks lay Jews. By the end of the 14th century, it seems that the

Grand Master simply repairing the old Byzantine castle. But then began the most serious and methodical

work, as the Turkish danger became more and more menacing.

TOWERS OF PORTS

By the first half of the 15th century the two ports of Rhodes, Mandraki and trade, protected by walls that

were in the depth of their mychon. However, the emergence of cannons and the beginning of the Turkish

raids forced the knights to fortify with three towers: Mandraki and generally the NE side of the city to

the Tower of St. Nicholas (1464-1467) and trade with their towers Naillac (1400-1863) and the Angels or

of France (1461-1475):

The Tower of St. Nicholas was built by Master Raimondo Zacosta (1461-67). The Master Pierre d

'Aubusson transformed him into building a small fort rampart round it.

The Tower of Naillac built by Master Naillac (1396-1421), was in Cologne to protect the harbor, had three

floors of EUR 49 m., and perfect defense system. A chain from the base of it reached the other side of the

harbor entrance and prevent the enemy ships. The tower fell in the earthquake of 1863, while the chain

moved to Istanbul in 1863 and still today seem very foundations, while the building materials are

scattered on the bottom of the port of Cologne.

The Tower of the Angels or of France located at the southern tip of the natural harbor waterfront

commercial (marketing). Strengthened by Master Pierre d 'Aubusson and called and tower mills because

the waterfront was located 13 mills (only 3 survived).

THE GATES

In addition, the city had until the end of the 15th century strongly fortified gates, which were not always

the same shape, the same position and the same name. Depending on the needs of the age and

architecture, the gates were changing position, purpose and name:

Thalassini Portal

D'Amboise or St. Anthony : After the sea gate is considered the most beautiful of the old city. Built in 1512

by the Grand Master d 'Amboise. Like the other gates also has a bridge from 1522 until 1912, one Greek

had the right to remain amid the old town. Every evening at 6 sounded a cannon and all Christians were

to leave the city, because the conquerors feared riots locals. The coats of arms of the Grand Masters who

built and are still in evidence today.

The gate of St. Anthony built the gate Amboise

St. Athanasius: Located on the NW side of town, near the Catholic church of St. Francis. Above the gate is

the coat of arms of the Grand Master d 'Aubusson, who built the 1487. Before we get to the gate there was

a bridge and closed the door after sundown. After the arrival of the Italians in 1912, all these doors were

bridges, since no gateway no longer closed in the evening.

Saint John or Koskinou: The Rhodians call it (wrongly) the red door. Said gate is called Koskinou because

formerly it led directly to the village Koskinou. Above the gate rises the crest of the great Master Ntemilly

and the relief effigy of St. John, where he earned the name of the gateway. Before we get to the gate we

pass over a bridge, which until 1912 was a huge door that was closed by sunset.

St. Catherine or "Mili": The second name derives from the 13 mills that existed at the pier (currently there

are only three). It is the smallest and the most unknown of all the gates, but has a long and amazing

history. He had great defense and fortification value as there were major battles during the siege of

Rhodes by the Agarinon 1480.

Seafood or Harbour Gate: It is the most striking of the gates, with two powerful circular towers. It is the

work of the Grand Master d 'Aubusson and was built in 1477, as the inscription over the entrance of the

gate. Head over to the incoming, there is a relief in stone depicting the Virgin, Saint John and Saint

Peter. Knights said the door Marina. This portal has legends, apart from the history, beauty and famous

name.

Tarsana: Located close to the temple of Aphrodite ports. Shipyards and said gate because it led to the

yards in the area.

St. Paul: Located in the northern part of the castle tower and lead to Naillac, at the end of most northern

breakwater of the harbor, near Cologne. Named after an inscription on the tower.

Today, the walls of the medieval city of Rhodes opened three gates: Gate of the Virgin Mary: Located

after the sea gate and new gate opened in 1954, to breathe the old town and the Rhodians have easier

access to the old town.

Gate Cova or Akantia: Leads from the old town to the beach and the port of Akantia. It took its name

from an Italian last century.

Gate of Freedom: Is that leads from the historic old town of Mandraki. Built in 1924 and named Mario

Lago gate. Since the release in 1947 until today gate called Liberty.

There were the gates of St. George and Italy, which were closed for safety reasons when the walls took

their final form after 1480, the era of the Grand Master d 'Aubusson, after the Ottoman

campaign. Guarding and maintenance of each of the gates had taken one of the "Languages"

(nationalities) of the Order of the Knights of St. John. The new elements added knights exemplify the

evolution of the military architecture. Specifically, round towers were added instead of flat (as in force

until then), and impressive bastions.

The palace surviving intact inside the castle, hundreds of buildings at the time give a complete picture

of the city of Rhodes in the late 15th and early 16th century. The most important public and private

buildings located in Kollakio. The Grand Master's Palace, Castel, dominates with its volume in the

Government House, on the NW side of town.

The construction was begun in the 7th century and was destined to become the citadel of Byzantine

fortifications. However, in the first decades of the 14th century, the Knights turned it into a palace for the

Grand Master of the Order, the administration building of the state and the last zone defense in case of

attack.

After the surrender of the island to the Turks, the majestic building passed into the hands of the new

invaders almost intact. But later, with the explosion in the neighboring church of St. John, the Castello

was seriously damaged and almost destroyed.

The Italians, who succeeded the Turks, rebuilt exactly in its original form and so came to our days. Castle

while headquarters has been in the middle of a quadrangular courtyard and around, over 3 floors, the

administration offices, accommodation and storage.

South of the palace traces large basilica, Gothic, which was blown up in 1856. In its place was built a

Muslim school.

THE Kollakio

The area around Castel, the Kollakio or Castle, home to the public buildings of the Knights, the Properties

of the "Language" and the residences of the nobility. The main street in Kollakio is the Street of the

Knights. Built on a street of the ancient city of Rhodes and is now considered one of the best preserved

medieval streets in the world. It is paved, with a length of 200 m., Width 6 m., And right and left are

preserved in excellent condition some of the most important buildings of the medieval city.

Among them, 4 of 6 accommodation of Languages, adorned with the coats of arms of knights and grand

master: the restored Provencal building, completed in 1518, Spain, France, one of the finest buildings of

medieval Rhodes, completed in 1509, and Italy. The paved road ends at Alexander Square (otherwise

Museum), where stands the Lady of the Castle.

In the center, opposite the accommodation of Spain, is the building that housed the Hospital of the

Knights which now houses the Archaeological Museum of Rhodes. The building was built in 1440 by

Master de Lastik and completed in 1484 by the Master d'Ampouson. On the ground floor there is a large

patio with storage around, while most of the first floor occupies a large chamber where the sick were

hospitalized.

The route leads the Knights in the big square in front of the Castello, which creates a majestic

gallery ( loggia ) with gothic stone arches leading to the entrance of the palace.

Other important buildings in Kollakio is the church of Our Lady of the Castle , the Arsenal and the

Knights of the Admiralty, the seat of the Latin bishop, almost ruined church of St. John, the first hospital,

the Palace of Armenia, the hostel of St. Catherine and the Clock Tower.

The area of Burgos

Finally, in the southern part of the city, in the region of Burgas, the mall was here built large mansions of

the Greeks and Franks traders, but many popular houses of which preserved a large number. In principle

Socratous Street, the most commercial street of the city even today, in Hippocrates Square with fountain,

is the building of Castellana , built in 1506. There initially operated to the standards of the cities of

Western Europe, the Commercial Court and now houses the Municipal Library and the Historical and

Folklore Archives.

At the other end of the street there Socratous mosque built in honor of Suleiman the Magnificent and his

near Aga Mosque.

The Square of the Jewish Martyrs adorns a beautiful fountain with metal seahorses and sea scenes. The

square marks and entering the homonymous district.

A little further on are the ruins of Our Lady of the Angels , in the region of Burgas. The impressive

spectacle is what remains of a small portion of the Gothic church. The three arches of the sanctuary,

standing stubbornly seem even more atmospheric in the evening, when he takes the reins of the special

lights.

Mandraki

A part of the fortifications of the castle extends north to protect Mandraki, one of the ports of the city,

home to the ancient martial fleet of the island. Then he played the same role in the Byzantine period and

the years of the knights. The entrance to the harbor, which houses mainly recreational craft, decorate two

features bronze statues of deer , one right and one left.

According to tradition, to the point where the two deer once stood the Colossus of Rhodes , a huge statue

of the famous lighthouse-Apollo, patron god of the island. The Colossus, which was destroyed by an

earthquake, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The breakwater stand for centuries and three stone windmills on the edge dominates the small but

powerful fortress of St. Nicholas , which protected the entrance to the harbor. Fans of the old cinema will

probably remember from the movie " The Guns of Navarone . "

SOURCE

Magazine Geotropio

FOOTNOTE [1] The Order flourished when Charles V, in 1530, gave to this island of Malta and renamed

the Order of the Knights of Malta. After the loss of Malta by Napoleon (1797), military and political power

the guild began to decline. Having moved temporarily based in Catania and Ferrara, he settled in Rome

(1814), where it is based as far acting principally as charity patients. In 1961, after lengthy negotiations,

the pope acknowledged the members of the guild to have control over ecclesiastical affairs. The guild

maintains even today organizations in Germany, Great Britain. Switzerland, where is the museum (1936),

in Sweden and some other European countries. It has about 8,000 members and its activity has mostly

charity.