Part 1: The History of Bodrum Castle (Castle of St. Peter)

Bodrum Castle, known formally as the Castle of St. Peter the Liberator of the Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Rhodes, is a masterpiece of late medieval military architecture.

1. The Strategic Location:

• The castle was built on a small rocky peninsula between two sheltered harbors in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus). This location was strategically chosen to control the maritime routes in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean seas.

2. The Builders: The Knights of St. John

• After being expelled from the Holy Land following the fall of Acre (1291), the Knights relocated their headquarters to Cyprus and then, in 1309, to the island of Rhodes. From Rhodes, they sought to create a defensive network to protect Christian shipping and launch raids against the emerging Ottoman Empire.
• Construction of the castle began in 1402 under the direction of the Grand Master Philibert de Naillac. The primary building material was the famous green volcanic stone from the nearby quarries, but the knights also famously repurposed stone from the ruins of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which stood on the same site. You can still see ancient marble blocks and reliefs embedded in the castle’s walls.

3. Architectural Design:

• The castle is a classic example of Crusader architecture. It was built with a double-wall system (an inner and outer curtain wall) separated by a moat (which was never filled with water).
• Its most distinctive feature is its multiple towers. Each tower was named after and maintained by a different “Tongue” (national division) of the Knights. The main towers are: the French Tower, the Italian Tower, the English Tower, the German Tower, and the Spanish Tower. This reflected the international composition of the Order.

4. Life and Function:

• For over a century, the castle served as a key fortress, a refuge for Christian civilians, a base for the Knights’ galley fleet, and an administrative center. It withstood several attacks but was ultimately captured by the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1523, after a long siege that resulted in the Knights surrendering Rhodes.

5. Later History and Modern Use:

• Under Ottoman rule, the castle was used as a small garrison and a prison. A mosque was added to the complex.
• In the late 19th century, it fell into disrepair.
• In the 1960s, a major restoration project began. Since 1962, it has housed the world-renowned Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, displaying spectacular finds from ancient shipwrecks discovered in the Aegean Sea.

---

Part 2: The Knights of St. John (Hospitaller Knights)

The builders of Bodrum Castle were one of the most powerful and enduring military-religious orders in history.

Origins (c. 1023):

• The order began in Jerusalem before the First Crusade as a monastic order running a hospital (hence “Hospitaller”) to care for sick, poor, or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land. The hospital was renowned for its high standard of care.

Transformation into a Military Order (c. 1130s):

• As the Crusader states faced constant threat, the order evolved. In addition to their charitable mission, they took on a military role to defend pilgrims and the Crusader kingdoms. They became a military-religious order, similar to the Knights Templar.

The Crusades and Aftermath:

• They became a major military power, acquiring vast lands and wealth across Europe. After the fall of the Holy Land in 1291, they moved their headquarters to Rhodes (1309-1522), where they became a sovereign naval power, constantly battling Ottoman and Muslim fleets.

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM):

• After their expulsion from Rhodes and a brief period without a home, Emperor Charles V gave them the islands of Malta in 1530. From there, they continued their mission, most famously surviving the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.
• Today, the order exists as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), a sovereign subject of international law based in Rome. It has returned to its original charitable mission, focusing on humanitarian aid and medical work worldwide.

---

Part 3: Ranks of the Hospitaller Knights

The Order was a highly structured feudal and military society. Members took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Ranks can be divided into three main classes:

Class I: The Military Brothers (The Knights)

These were the elite, typically men of noble birth who could prove several generations of nobility.

• Grand Master: The supreme head of the Order, elected for life. He was a prince and sovereign in his own right (in Rhodes and later Malta).
• Bailiffs: High-ranking officials who held major administrative or military commands (e.g., Grand Commander, Marshal, Admiral).
• Knights of Justice: The full knights, the core military force. They were required to serve in the Order’s convent (headquarters) and on its galleys.

Class II: The Chaplains

• These were ordained priests who provided for the spiritual needs of the Order. They celebrated Mass, heard confessions, and ran the Order’s churches. The Grand Prior was the senior chaplain.

Class III: The Serving Brothers

These were non-noble members who supported the Order’s military and hospital work.

• Sergeants-at-Arms: Served as light cavalry or men-at-arms. They formed a crucial part of the military backbone.
• Sergeants-at-Office: Included administrators, craftsmen, and those who worked directly in the hospitals.

The “Tongues” (Langues)

This was a unique organizational feature. The Order was divided into eight “Tongues” or national groupings:

1. Provence
2. Auvergne
3. France
4. Italy
5. Aragon (including Navarre and Catalonia)
6. England (including Scotland and Ireland)
7. Germany
8. Castile (including Portugal)

Each “Tongue” had its own Auberge (inn) at the Order’s headquarters and was responsible for manning and maintaining a specific section of the fortress, like the towers in Bodrum Castle.

Summary

Bodrum Castle is a direct physical legacy of the Knights of St. John. It embodies their power, their international character (through the Tongues), their mastery of fortification, and their relentless struggle against the Ottoman Empire in the centuries after the Crusades.