Prince Cem at Pierre d'Aubusson's table
Mavi Boncuk |
Prince Cem (Djem), had been governor of the province of Karaman in Asia Minor; and until the death of his father in 1481 he only once left his residence there, namely in the year 1478-79, in order to parley from a place on the coast with the Grand Master of the order of St. John of Rhodes, Pierre d'Aubusson. In fact, during the whole of his life, Djem never again returned to Constantinople.Pierre d'Aubusson (1423 – July 3, 1503) was a Grand Master of the order of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller) and a zealous opponent of the Ottoman Empire. Pierre probably joined the Knights of St. John in 1444 or 1445 and then left for Rhodes.
Sultan Mehmed II began to threaten Europe. In May 1480 a large Ottoman fleet appeared before Rhodes, carrying an invading army of some 100,000 men under the command of Mesih Pasha (originally a Greek by the name of Michael Palaiologos who had converted to Islam after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks).
(below) Miniature from Caoursin's account of the siege of Rhodes, 1480
Prince Cem (Djem), had been governor of the province of Karaman in Asia Minor; and until the death of his father in 1481 he only once left his residence there, namely in the year 1478-79, in order to parley from a place on the coast with the Grand Master of the order of St. John of Rhodes, Pierre d'Aubusson. In fact, during the whole of his life, Djem never again returned to Constantinople.Pierre d'Aubusson (1423 – July 3, 1503) was a Grand Master of the order of St. John of Jerusalem (the Knights Hospitaller) and a zealous opponent of the Ottoman Empire. Pierre probably joined the Knights of St. John in 1444 or 1445 and then left for Rhodes.
Sultan Mehmed II began to threaten Europe. In May 1480 a large Ottoman fleet appeared before Rhodes, carrying an invading army of some 100,000 men under the command of Mesih Pasha (originally a Greek by the name of Michael Palaiologos who had converted to Islam after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks).
(below) Miniature from Caoursin's account of the siege of Rhodes, 1480
The Knights were reinforced from France by 500 knights and 2000 soldiers under d'Aubusson's brother Antoine. The siege lasted until August. After three unsuccessful attempts against the city, the Turkish force was compelled to withdraw, leaving behind them 9000 dead. The siege, in which d'Aubusson was wounded three times, enhanced his renown throughout Europe.Sultan Mehmed was furious and would have attacked the island again but for his death in 1481. His succession was disputed between his sons Bayezid and Cem. The latter, after his defeat by Bayezid, sought refuge at Rhodes under a safe-conduct from the Grand Master and the General Convent of the Order.Rhodes not being considered secure, Cem with his own consent was sent to Bourganeuf in France where he was kept under the guard of Guy de Blanchefort, Pierre d'Aubusson's nephew. Guarding Cem D'Aubusson accepted an annuity of 45,000 ducats from Bayezid II, in return for which he undertook to guard Cem in such a way as to prevent him from appealing to the Christian powers to aid him against his brother. The death of Cem in 1495 had removed the most formidable weapon available against the Sultan. And when in 1501 d'Aubusson led an expedition against Mytilene, dissension among his motley host rendered this enterprise wholly abortive.
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