A Knight of the White Cross : A Tale of the Siege of Rhodes

by G. A. Henty

Overview

The order of the Knights of St. John, which for some centuries played a very important part in the great struggle between Christianity and Mahomedanism, was, at its origin, a semi-religious body, its members being, like other monks, bound by vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty, and pledged to minister to the wants of the pilgrims who flocked to the Holy Places, to receive them at their great Hospital—or guest house—at Jerusalem, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and to defend them on their passage to and from the sea, against attack by Moslems. In a comparatively short time the constitution of the order was changed, and the Knights Hospitallers became, like the Templars, a great military Order pledged to defend the Holy Sepulchre, and to war everywhere against the Moslems. The Hospitallers bore a leading share in the struggle which terminated in the triumph of the Moslems, and the capture by them of Jerusalem. The Knights of St. John then established themselves at Acre, but after a valiant defence of that fortress, removed to Crete, and shortly afterwards to Rhodes. There they fortified the town, and withstood two terrible sieges by the Turks. At the end of the second they obtained honourable terms from Sultan Solyman, and retiring to Malta established themselves there in an even stronger fortress than that of Rhodes, and repulsed all the efforts of the Turks to dispossess them. The Order was the great bulwark of Christendom against the invasion of the Turks, and the tale of their long struggle is one of absorbing interest, and of the many eventful episodes none is more full of incident and excitement than the first siege of Rhodes, which I have chosen for the subject of my story.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940161246092
Publisher:	Freeday Shop
Publication date:	08/08/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

George Alfred Henty was born on 8 December, 1832, at Trumpington, near Cambridge, the second son of the four children of coal mine manager James Henty (1799-1872) and Mary Bovill (1808-1887). Whilst attending the Westminster School he took to physical pursuits such as rowing and boxing, activities he would continue at Caius College, Cambridge, where he studied the classics. Later in life yachting became one his many passions. At the outbreak of the Crimean War Henty and his brother Frederick were commissioned for service and the Morning Advertiser published his letters home. Frederick died after contracting cholera, and Henty was invalided home. Upon arrival home he continued his writing whilst rehabilitating. The now-promoted captain and Elizabeth Finucane (1836–1865) married on 1 July, 1857, with whom he'd have four children. In 1865 Elizabeth died of tuberculosis. His two daughters Maud Elizabeth (d.1879) at the age of eighteen, and Ethel Mary (d.1882) at the age of nineteen, also died of tuberculosis. Overcome with grief that lasted for many years, Henty resigned his position as captain because it wasn't sufficient to support his family. He then launched into his career as war correspondent for The Standard. He endured many adventures of derring-do whilst in the company of Garibaldi in Italy and Sir Robert Napier in Abyssinia. The March to Magdala and All but Lost, collections of his reports were published in 1868. During the Franco-Prussian War he spent time with both the German and French sides. He then found himself reporting on campaign events in Russia and Africa. The Illustrated London News as well as The Standard were publishing his reports. After writing of the Spanish Civil War, Henty accompanied the Prince of Wales on a royal tour of India. After many years of service, Henty was starting to weary of the travails of war and conflict, physically and spiritually, and finally resigned.