Note (F) — THE HISTORY OF Solyman the Magnificent, and Mustapha his Son.

Rhodes (Rhodus) is an Island in the Mediterranean Sea, near fifty Leagues in compass; the Capital City, that Solyman besieg’d, takes its name from the Island. Rhodes was once famous for a mighty Colossus dedicated to the Sun, of such a monstrous size that Vessels sail’d in the Harbour between its Legs: it was seventy Cubits high. The Brass of this Statue, (after it was thrown down by an Earthquake) loaded seventy-two Camels, and was transported to Alexandria in Egypt, when it was taken by Muhavia the Sultan. Rhodes is seated seven Leagues from the nearest Coast of Asia to the South, forty-seven from Candi (another Island in the Mediterranean, made famous by the Poets by the name of Crete) to the North-East, and a hundred and sixty Leagues from Constantinople to the South. It was first peopled by Javan, the Grandson of Japhet, before any part of Greece was inhabited: in a few ages after, the Phœnicians (famous for spreading Traffic over the World that was then known) possess’d it. It was made a Roman Province by Vespasian. In 654 it was taken by the Saracens: in 1124 it was conquer’d by Venetians it was taken in the Year 1227 by John Ducas, Admiral of the Greeks: in 1283, it fell with all lesser Asia into the hands of the Othomans: in 1310, it was taken (after a four Years Siege) by the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, under Fulk Villers, an Englishman, afterwards Grand Master of the Order. It was vainly attempted twice by Mahomet II; till taken by Treachery by Solyman the Magnificent. The Knights of Rhodes retir’d to Sicily; till the Year 1530, Charles V. gave them the Grant of the Island of Malta, where they have flourish’d ever since, often checking the Insults of the Turkish maritime Power.