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First besieged in 305 BC, the island of Rhodes became part of the Roman Empire and was later fortified in the Byzantine style. Due to its strategic position in the Mediterranean, Rhodes was also attacked and besieged for over a century by Islamic forces. This title details the development of these fascinating fortifications, as well as the sieges that sought to reduce them.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Excellent overview of this fortification
1 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book, like most in the Osprey Fortification series, provides a very good overview of its topic in its relatively short breadth (64 pages, roughly half of which are illustration).
The physical characteristics of the fort are especially well covered, especially in terms of illustration (drawings, etchings, photographs and contemperoneous artwork). The emphasis of the book is on the physical fortifications in the condition they were in during the two famous sieges of 1480 1522. Little discussion regarding the fortifications is presented outside of this time frame. The book is richly illustrated with drawings and etchings showing the condition of this fort during the two sieges. As the fort is today, more or less, in the same state it was at the end of the 1522 siege there are also many excellent photos that illustrate its key defensive and architectural points.
There is also considerable discussion as to strengths and weaknesses of the fortifications along with how they developed over time (i.e., closing off of many entrances, building of large moats, building of secondary set of walls and fortifications in front of main walls and in moats, etc.). The primary emphasis, again, is on how the fortifications developed between 1480 and 1522. The illustrations show how the fort's defenses were massively expanded during this interim period. In addition, there is a good discussion, along with accompanying illustration, of what certain features were for (i.e., machicolations, tunnels that permitted entry from fort into moat floors that permitted sallies, etc.). The book also covers how responsibility for fort defense was partitioned, by lines along the wall, by nationality and a brief discussion of the Knight's of Saint John and non-military functions of the fort (to assist pilgrims to the Holy Land, etc.).
The book does have a few weaknesses which do not permit it to be granted a five star rating however. The most important of these is a lack of a combat history of the two sieges with an emphasis on how the fortifications performed relative to the strengths and weaknesses identified in the book. For a good history of the two sieges Eric Brockman's book "The Two Sieges of Rhodes, 1480-1522" is highly recommended by this reviewer. Other weaknesses include a lack of cutaway drawings, lack of photos some of the very impressive still standing interior (the Knight's main banquet hall is incredibly impressive but not covered in book) and some discussion of the geopolitical importance of the fort and why the Ottoman state expended such great efforts to invest the fort. In addition, as the fort is currently standing in more or less the state discussed in the book, the book could have added a paragraph or so on travel and tour recommendations for those interested in actually visiting the site. For the fortification aficionado with the inclination, time and money to spend a visit is well worth it (as the pictures in book taken by the author make clear).
The physical characteristics of the fort are especially well covered, especially in terms of illustration (drawings, etchings, photographs and contemperoneous artwork). The emphasis of the book is on the physical fortifications in the condition they were in during the two famous sieges of 1480 1522. Little discussion regarding the fortifications is presented outside of this time frame. The book is richly illustrated with drawings and etchings showing the condition of this fort during the two sieges. As the fort is today, more or less, in the same state it was at the end of the 1522 siege there are also many excellent photos that illustrate its key defensive and architectural points.
There is also considerable discussion as to strengths and weaknesses of the fortifications along with how they developed over time (i.e., closing off of many entrances, building of large moats, building of secondary set of walls and fortifications in front of main walls and in moats, etc.). The primary emphasis, again, is on how the fortifications developed between 1480 and 1522. The illustrations show how the fort's defenses were massively expanded during this interim period. In addition, there is a good discussion, along with accompanying illustration, of what certain features were for (i.e., machicolations, tunnels that permitted entry from fort into moat floors that permitted sallies, etc.). The book also covers how responsibility for fort defense was partitioned, by lines along the wall, by nationality and a brief discussion of the Knight's of Saint John and non-military functions of the fort (to assist pilgrims to the Holy Land, etc.).
The book does have a few weaknesses which do not permit it to be granted a five star rating however. The most important of these is a lack of a combat history of the two sieges with an emphasis on how the fortifications performed relative to the strengths and weaknesses identified in the book. For a good history of the two sieges Eric Brockman's book "The Two Sieges of Rhodes, 1480-1522" is highly recommended by this reviewer. Other weaknesses include a lack of cutaway drawings, lack of photos some of the very impressive still standing interior (the Knight's main banquet hall is incredibly impressive but not covered in book) and some discussion of the geopolitical importance of the fort and why the Ottoman state expended such great efforts to invest the fort. In addition, as the fort is currently standing in more or less the state discussed in the book, the book could have added a paragraph or so on travel and tour recommendations for those interested in actually visiting the site. For the fortification aficionado with the inclination, time and money to spend a visit is well worth it (as the pictures in book taken by the author make clear).
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Highly interesting descriptions
19 July 2010
Format:Paperback
The Fortress of Rhodes by Konstantin Nossov proves to be a highly interesting and well researched book made famous by its historical sieges against the Order of St. John who ruled the island from 1309 to 1522 by their Turkish foe. The author does an excellent job in describing the conditions of the fortifications as it evolved from the Roman-Byzantine to a more modern anti-artillery mode. It was interesting to read how the knights levelled the fortifications to blend into the ground while surrounding it with a large dry moat high enough to be level with the defense. It was an awesome fortress city that allowed the few to hold off against great numbers as history has shown.
The book only got two weaknesses. First is that the second siege in 1522 got the short end of the stick although the author did justice to the 1480 siege. Second is that for some reason beyond my understanding, there is NO map of where Rhodes is located in the Mediterranean Sea or even a map of the island itself. I know where it is but I doubt if most Americans can figure it out so easily. Geography from what I read, isn't our greatest strength. Anyway, this put a little hamper in the narrative that often describe Rhodes' great strategic position against the Ottoman Turks.
The book comes with great artwork, nice layouts of the fortress city, very good photographs that shows its conditions (I especially like the photograph where it shows the Turkish cannon balls still embedded into the wall.) and even a tour guide of sort just in case we decided to go to this remote location of Greece. It is pretty obvious that the author did visited this location prior to writing this book. I found this book to be informative and I fully began to understand after reading this book how truly awesome this fortress city must have been during its heydays.
The book only got two weaknesses. First is that the second siege in 1522 got the short end of the stick although the author did justice to the 1480 siege. Second is that for some reason beyond my understanding, there is NO map of where Rhodes is located in the Mediterranean Sea or even a map of the island itself. I know where it is but I doubt if most Americans can figure it out so easily. Geography from what I read, isn't our greatest strength. Anyway, this put a little hamper in the narrative that often describe Rhodes' great strategic position against the Ottoman Turks.
The book comes with great artwork, nice layouts of the fortress city, very good photographs that shows its conditions (I especially like the photograph where it shows the Turkish cannon balls still embedded into the wall.) and even a tour guide of sort just in case we decided to go to this remote location of Greece. It is pretty obvious that the author did visited this location prior to writing this book. I found this book to be informative and I fully began to understand after reading this book how truly awesome this fortress city must have been during its heydays.
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