Imagine standing where Byzantines once stood overlooking the same walls. These are the Byzantine fortifications works of Rhodes. They whisper tales of empires and sieges long past.
Let’s journey back to the early Byzantine era. From the 7th to 13th centuries, these walls defined the city. The Byzantine fortification split Rhodes into three distinct areas. First, there was the citadel, later the Palace of the Grand Master. Then came the Collachium, the upper town. Lastly, the borgo housed the general population outside the walls.
These fortifications were not just walls. They were a statement. The Byzantines built a fortress on the town’s highest point. They understood Rhodes’ strategic importance. Its location made it a vital trade stop between East and West. Rhodes needed protection.
The Byzantine walls featured a fausse-braye, an outer defense wall. A dry moat further protected the curtain and its towers. These elements worked together to keep Rhodes safe.
The Knights Hospitaller arrived in 1309. They expanded the city. The Knights increased the walled area by two-fifths compared to Byzantine times. While the city grew, the Byzantine influence remained. Parts of the original fortifications still exist today. They are incorporated into later buildings, especially in the Collachium area.
The Knights improved the fortifications. They adapted them to new warfare techniques. Gunpowder was changing everything. By the mid-15th century, artillery was decisive. Mining became more effective. The Knights needed to adapt. They aimed for flanking fire, solidity, and firepower.
Sections in sheltered positions kept their medieval look. The north and sea walls remained protected. The Grand Masters Palace and fortified moles helped. The Hospitallers gradually modified the walls. They had limited resources and faced constant threats.
Independent square towers flanked the Hospitaller defenses until 1430. These towers were open at the back. A fausse-braye and dry moat guarded their base. At least seven gates existed. The tall Tower of Naillac guarded the harbor entrance.
Rhodes faced many sieges. In 1444, a Mamluk siege failed. Afterward, round towers began to appear. Grand Masters Jacques de Milly and Pere Ramon Zacosta systematically reinforced towers and gates. Giambattista degli Orsini improved the moat and sea wall.
Pierre d’Aubusson successfully resisted the Ottoman siege of 1480. Later, he reduced land gates to four and strengthened them. He built massive earthworks to shield exposed walls and widened the moat. The Hospitallers sealed another land gate and added fortifications west of the Grand Masters Palace.
Grand Master Fabrizio del Carretto further reinforced the land wall. He added packed earth and masonry on the inside. The south and west walls became a continuous gun platform. They could hold back massive enemy attacks.
The siege of 1522 was a turning point. After six months, Rhodes surrendered to the Ottoman Turks. The defenders’ gunpowder was exhausted. The Knights of St. John left the Dodecanese. The Turks repaired the defenses but made no major changes.
Today, the Byzantine fortifications of Rhodes stand as a testament. They show the evolution of defensive architecture. They remind us of the strategic importance of this island. They connect us to the empires and knights who once walked these walls.