The following are excerpts by a senior English pillerius and his successors detailing the history of this great island with its proud military tradition. Time for once was on the knights side, as the death of Mehmed had left the Turks split between his two sons Djem and Bayezid. Djem lost the struggle for power and fled to Rhodes where he was greeted by d'Aubusson and signed a peace agreement which was to keep his brother Bayezid at bay. This was to prove crucial in the next few years.
The Knights Of Rhodes and the First Crusade (1492-1496)
February, 1492
Whilst eating a breakfast in inn belonging to the English knights along the street of knights i have heard from others that Pierre himself has decreed to the people of Rhodes, and has assured us all, that this island will not fall, not to the Turk, not to any nation. This coupled with Djem's treaty is to provide our army and the people of Rhodes valuable time with which to prepare for the coming years and the almost certain conflict with the Turk.
Pierre has commissioned me to report the disposition of our forces on the island and after a few days of talking to the eight bailiffs of the tongues I was able to accurately inform Pierre that with have a small but professional fighting army of 12,000 men, and in addition to this we possessed a 14 strong fleet of galleys capable of transporting our army anywhere we required.
Pierre was pleased with the accuracy of the report. He immediately set about recruiting 2000 additional men, and at the same time a tax collector was promoted from one of our local townspeople to assist in gathering much needed revenue.
February 15, 1492
I am awoken and summoned to the grandmaster’s quarters early this morning to discuss some very interesting news with other leaders. We are informed that the Turk has declared war on the Mameluke’s. A great cheer comes from us all as it pleases us greatly that they should do this to each other rather than focus there attentions on other Christian nations. However it is decided in this moment of distraction that we should press our heritage as a crusading order and that we should become involved in this conflict. Given that the Mameluke’s are weak and without allies agree a strike against them in northern Egypt is the best possible option and the order is sent out to prepare for attack.
I personally have never seen the English knights here so prepared for combat. We are all anxious to return to the crusading zeal once possessed by our forbears and to get off this god forsaken island, even though it means much to our heritage. During preparation our duties manning one of the five main bastions in Rhodes harbour are performed admirably.
April, 1492
Optimism is building, but so is the need for expediency. The training of the 2000 men recently recruited is completed, and another 2000 are hired as we make preparations to leave Rhodes to attack the infidel. The new recruits are not traditional knights, but men-at-arms, expertly trained in swordsmanship and siege tactics.
June 19, 1492
Final preparations are completed and our 14,000 strong and confident army departs Rhodes in the galley fleet with Pierre at the forefront itching for a taste of the crusading zeal that he last felt when the turks invaded Rhodes.
July 12, 1492
During the voyage spies report a huge 38,000 strong Turkish army passing through Konya province to our north. Pierre knows full well that if we are to strike it must be quick and it must be decisive. We don’t want the Turk’s annexing this entire territory before we land!
The First Crusade
August 18, 1492
We arrive off the coast of Northern Egypt and declare the first crusade on the Mameluke’s despite fears that Rhodes will be invaded whilst it is defenseless (-2 to stability). We do in fact have several allies (Tuscany, Modena and Genoa) but we decline to involve them for fear of them being attacked but principally to prevent them from being able to take any territory we are seeking in this crusade. We wish to represent and administer these territories directly.
We also learn, through almost consistent reports, of the Turk’s astonishing march so far. Already the provinces of Aleppo, Syria and Judea have fallen to their advancing armies. We do not have long by all accounts and Pierre relays this information immediately to the army.
October 3, 1492
The siege of Damietta (3) in the Delta North of Cairo is begun with great zest, although attrition is already biting the fleet and the army. The Mameluke’s, ill-prepared and not expecting such a daring invasion have no counter to offer at all.
January, 1493
The siege of Damietta is progressing slowly and again we receive word of the success the Turk is having against the Mameluke’s. Barely a few weeks march a monstrous Turkish army is known to be besieging Cairo. This causes our army great concern and the siege loses some ground as the army fears attack at such a crucial time. Given our awful relations (-200) and recent history (1480 at Rhodes) it is anticipated the Turks will declare war on us however this doesn’t happen, least not right away, and all appears stable. Most likely thanks to Djem's treaty.
May 23rd, 1493
We learn that Cairo has fallen almost effortlessly to the Turks. We launch an immediate attack on the garrison at Damietta but fail. 10762/553 of our men are left facing a dwindling but strong 3376/0 Mameluke defenders.
September, 1493
A breakthrough occurs at last, as concerted attacks and forays from both sides of the city reduce its defenses dramatically (-5). This happens as 1000 new reinforcements arrive of the coast in the fleet to bolster the siege army.
March 6th, 1494
Pierre, although busy in Damietta, learns of a massive war in Europe breaking out. Spain (Milan, Naples, Lorraine, Poland-Lithuania and the Palatinate) declare war on France (Savoy, Papal States, Navarre, Portugal and Helvetia). To prevent desertions amongst soldiers from those nations this news is carefully suppressed.
March 9th, 1494
Damietta finally falls to our crusaders. Arriving in the city they discover almost all of the defenders dead from starvation and disease. A garrison is set up and the city is carefully restored to a defensive ability at the least. The bulk of the crusading army is tasking with taking the prosperous province of Alexandria.
April 17th, 1494
We arrive off the outskirts of the main city and begin our siege of Alexandria; however as we do so runners report the travel of two Mameluke armies to our position. There is a small 1000 man expeditionary force from Cyrenaica to the west, and a significantly more threatening 15,000 man strong army, from the east. Pierre remains concerned at the best choice of action. Should the siege of Alexandria be abandoned? Or should we await the Mameluke army on the outskirts of the city? He opts for the latter and this proves a wise choice.
May, 1494
This 15,000 man army is fortuitously intercepted by the Turks who utterly annihilate them. They have unwittingly ensured our survival in this region. This is done the same time we destroy the small expeditionary force heading from the other direction.
July, 1494
The siege of Alexandria (2) is proceeding slowly, and the war rages on in western Europe unabated. Pierre is thankful as to how everything has turned out so far.
December, 1494
In the last few months we have made some excellent progress with the siege of Alexandria (-3) and the city looks sure to fall soon. However given the superior Turkish forces in the vicinity it is decided we need to take this province urgently and launch an immediate assault which only narrowly fails to take the city.
June, 1495
Milan buy themselves out of the western European war after having been ravaged by most of her opponents. Our runners report the Turks advancing to Alexandria!! Pierre is visibly concerned and decides to move his forces on the eastern side of the city. The Mameluke’s thinking that the knights have abandoned the siege come out only to face 30,000 Turks staring at them.
July 5th, 1495
The Turks again unwittingly aid our forces, and whilst they take the heavier losses from the main battle with the Mameluke’s, our crusaders storm in and take the city from behind the Mameluke’s. We then charge into the rear of the Mameluke army and decimate them. The Turks seeing us in control of Alexandria withdraw east leaving us confused as to what just happened although victorious as the city of Alexandria is finally ours.
October, 1495
Our victorious crusading army heads westwards and loses its first battle in the plains surrounding Cyrenaica.
January 1496
The same army that beat us in Cyrenaica attacks as we retreat back to sparsely populated province of Quattara, Pierre narrowly beats them off, and his straggling survivors, a mere 3880 crusaders limp back to safety in Alexandria.
Crucially we soon learn that our activities have foundered and frustrated Turkish interests in this area as they can progress no further into Mameluke territory west of the Nile. They agree a treaty with the Mameluke’s which cedes to them the provinces of Samara (and the holy city of Jerusalem and easily the most important province from a religious point of view), Sinai (an unimportant and undeveloped backwater) and the (now isolated) Nile province south of Cairo.
The Turkish sultan is incensed and enraged by all accounts with the knights. We however are overjoyed. We now have a free hand in the western territories of the Mameluke Empire, but we are unfortunately to weak to really capitalize on this.
July 1st, 1496
We initiate our siege on the already half destroyed city of Cairo (2) in order to facilitate an end to the first crusade.
September 1496
We manage to off load 2,941 reinforcements freshly delivered from mainland Rhodes. We, the leaders of the tongues, are informed that money is now desperately short and we need a resolution to this crusade and quickly. Pierre takes to heart the plight of our homeland.
November 18th, 1496
With only a slight advantage in numbers we decide to throw caution to the wind and attack the city head on. During the assault we discover numerous siege routes already made by the Turks and quickly take the key centers of power in Cairo. Our army then spreads throughout the city and dispatches the remaining garrison.
November 19th, 1496
Our crusade is over. We bring the few remaining Mameluke governors to the table and demand that the province of Alexandria and the Delta north of Cairo are handed over to us immediately. They are forced to accept, and our fleet sails into Alexandria where the crusaders are given a heroes welcome by the garrison. We immediately set about recruiting in the city and 3,000 Muslim infantry are raised from amongst the populace.
The Knights Of Rhodes and the First Crusade (1492-1496)
February, 1492
Whilst eating a breakfast in inn belonging to the English knights along the street of knights i have heard from others that Pierre himself has decreed to the people of Rhodes, and has assured us all, that this island will not fall, not to the Turk, not to any nation. This coupled with Djem's treaty is to provide our army and the people of Rhodes valuable time with which to prepare for the coming years and the almost certain conflict with the Turk.
Pierre has commissioned me to report the disposition of our forces on the island and after a few days of talking to the eight bailiffs of the tongues I was able to accurately inform Pierre that with have a small but professional fighting army of 12,000 men, and in addition to this we possessed a 14 strong fleet of galleys capable of transporting our army anywhere we required.
Pierre was pleased with the accuracy of the report. He immediately set about recruiting 2000 additional men, and at the same time a tax collector was promoted from one of our local townspeople to assist in gathering much needed revenue.
February 15, 1492
I am awoken and summoned to the grandmaster’s quarters early this morning to discuss some very interesting news with other leaders. We are informed that the Turk has declared war on the Mameluke’s. A great cheer comes from us all as it pleases us greatly that they should do this to each other rather than focus there attentions on other Christian nations. However it is decided in this moment of distraction that we should press our heritage as a crusading order and that we should become involved in this conflict. Given that the Mameluke’s are weak and without allies agree a strike against them in northern Egypt is the best possible option and the order is sent out to prepare for attack.
I personally have never seen the English knights here so prepared for combat. We are all anxious to return to the crusading zeal once possessed by our forbears and to get off this god forsaken island, even though it means much to our heritage. During preparation our duties manning one of the five main bastions in Rhodes harbour are performed admirably.
April, 1492
Optimism is building, but so is the need for expediency. The training of the 2000 men recently recruited is completed, and another 2000 are hired as we make preparations to leave Rhodes to attack the infidel. The new recruits are not traditional knights, but men-at-arms, expertly trained in swordsmanship and siege tactics.
June 19, 1492
Final preparations are completed and our 14,000 strong and confident army departs Rhodes in the galley fleet with Pierre at the forefront itching for a taste of the crusading zeal that he last felt when the turks invaded Rhodes.
July 12, 1492
During the voyage spies report a huge 38,000 strong Turkish army passing through Konya province to our north. Pierre knows full well that if we are to strike it must be quick and it must be decisive. We don’t want the Turk’s annexing this entire territory before we land!
The First Crusade
August 18, 1492
We arrive off the coast of Northern Egypt and declare the first crusade on the Mameluke’s despite fears that Rhodes will be invaded whilst it is defenseless (-2 to stability). We do in fact have several allies (Tuscany, Modena and Genoa) but we decline to involve them for fear of them being attacked but principally to prevent them from being able to take any territory we are seeking in this crusade. We wish to represent and administer these territories directly.
We also learn, through almost consistent reports, of the Turk’s astonishing march so far. Already the provinces of Aleppo, Syria and Judea have fallen to their advancing armies. We do not have long by all accounts and Pierre relays this information immediately to the army.
October 3, 1492
The siege of Damietta (3) in the Delta North of Cairo is begun with great zest, although attrition is already biting the fleet and the army. The Mameluke’s, ill-prepared and not expecting such a daring invasion have no counter to offer at all.
January, 1493
The siege of Damietta is progressing slowly and again we receive word of the success the Turk is having against the Mameluke’s. Barely a few weeks march a monstrous Turkish army is known to be besieging Cairo. This causes our army great concern and the siege loses some ground as the army fears attack at such a crucial time. Given our awful relations (-200) and recent history (1480 at Rhodes) it is anticipated the Turks will declare war on us however this doesn’t happen, least not right away, and all appears stable. Most likely thanks to Djem's treaty.
May 23rd, 1493
We learn that Cairo has fallen almost effortlessly to the Turks. We launch an immediate attack on the garrison at Damietta but fail. 10762/553 of our men are left facing a dwindling but strong 3376/0 Mameluke defenders.
September, 1493
A breakthrough occurs at last, as concerted attacks and forays from both sides of the city reduce its defenses dramatically (-5). This happens as 1000 new reinforcements arrive of the coast in the fleet to bolster the siege army.
March 6th, 1494
Pierre, although busy in Damietta, learns of a massive war in Europe breaking out. Spain (Milan, Naples, Lorraine, Poland-Lithuania and the Palatinate) declare war on France (Savoy, Papal States, Navarre, Portugal and Helvetia). To prevent desertions amongst soldiers from those nations this news is carefully suppressed.
March 9th, 1494
Damietta finally falls to our crusaders. Arriving in the city they discover almost all of the defenders dead from starvation and disease. A garrison is set up and the city is carefully restored to a defensive ability at the least. The bulk of the crusading army is tasking with taking the prosperous province of Alexandria.
April 17th, 1494
We arrive off the outskirts of the main city and begin our siege of Alexandria; however as we do so runners report the travel of two Mameluke armies to our position. There is a small 1000 man expeditionary force from Cyrenaica to the west, and a significantly more threatening 15,000 man strong army, from the east. Pierre remains concerned at the best choice of action. Should the siege of Alexandria be abandoned? Or should we await the Mameluke army on the outskirts of the city? He opts for the latter and this proves a wise choice.
May, 1494
This 15,000 man army is fortuitously intercepted by the Turks who utterly annihilate them. They have unwittingly ensured our survival in this region. This is done the same time we destroy the small expeditionary force heading from the other direction.
July, 1494
The siege of Alexandria (2) is proceeding slowly, and the war rages on in western Europe unabated. Pierre is thankful as to how everything has turned out so far.
December, 1494
In the last few months we have made some excellent progress with the siege of Alexandria (-3) and the city looks sure to fall soon. However given the superior Turkish forces in the vicinity it is decided we need to take this province urgently and launch an immediate assault which only narrowly fails to take the city.
June, 1495
Milan buy themselves out of the western European war after having been ravaged by most of her opponents. Our runners report the Turks advancing to Alexandria!! Pierre is visibly concerned and decides to move his forces on the eastern side of the city. The Mameluke’s thinking that the knights have abandoned the siege come out only to face 30,000 Turks staring at them.
July 5th, 1495
The Turks again unwittingly aid our forces, and whilst they take the heavier losses from the main battle with the Mameluke’s, our crusaders storm in and take the city from behind the Mameluke’s. We then charge into the rear of the Mameluke army and decimate them. The Turks seeing us in control of Alexandria withdraw east leaving us confused as to what just happened although victorious as the city of Alexandria is finally ours.
October, 1495
Our victorious crusading army heads westwards and loses its first battle in the plains surrounding Cyrenaica.
January 1496
The same army that beat us in Cyrenaica attacks as we retreat back to sparsely populated province of Quattara, Pierre narrowly beats them off, and his straggling survivors, a mere 3880 crusaders limp back to safety in Alexandria.
Crucially we soon learn that our activities have foundered and frustrated Turkish interests in this area as they can progress no further into Mameluke territory west of the Nile. They agree a treaty with the Mameluke’s which cedes to them the provinces of Samara (and the holy city of Jerusalem and easily the most important province from a religious point of view), Sinai (an unimportant and undeveloped backwater) and the (now isolated) Nile province south of Cairo.
The Turkish sultan is incensed and enraged by all accounts with the knights. We however are overjoyed. We now have a free hand in the western territories of the Mameluke Empire, but we are unfortunately to weak to really capitalize on this.
July 1st, 1496
We initiate our siege on the already half destroyed city of Cairo (2) in order to facilitate an end to the first crusade.
September 1496
We manage to off load 2,941 reinforcements freshly delivered from mainland Rhodes. We, the leaders of the tongues, are informed that money is now desperately short and we need a resolution to this crusade and quickly. Pierre takes to heart the plight of our homeland.
November 18th, 1496
With only a slight advantage in numbers we decide to throw caution to the wind and attack the city head on. During the assault we discover numerous siege routes already made by the Turks and quickly take the key centers of power in Cairo. Our army then spreads throughout the city and dispatches the remaining garrison.
November 19th, 1496
Our crusade is over. We bring the few remaining Mameluke governors to the table and demand that the province of Alexandria and the Delta north of Cairo are handed over to us immediately. They are forced to accept, and our fleet sails into Alexandria where the crusaders are given a heroes welcome by the garrison. We immediately set about recruiting in the city and 3,000 Muslim infantry are raised from amongst the populace.
