[E] _Belgrade_ (the ancient _Alba Græca_) built on the River Save, near its Fall into the Danube, is the Capital of _Rascia_, a Province of Hungary; it has often chang’d its Masters, though for many ages the _Bulwark_ of the _Christians_ against the Othomans. _Amurath_ II. lost the best part of his Army before it. His Son _Mahomet_ was forced to raise the Siege with infinite loss, by a _Stratagem_ of the heroick _John Huniades_. He suffer’d a large Body of the Enemy to enter the Town, who immediately fell to plundering; in the mean time, he made a Tally upon the remaining Troops without, and put them to flight; then turning their own Cannon on the Plunderers, forced them to abandon the City, leaving their Tents, Baggage, Provision, and Ammunition behind them. In the Year 1521, it was taken by this _Solyman_, after a furious Siege of two Months. It remain’d in the hands of the _Othomans_, till the Year 1688, when the Imperialists took it by storm; fix hundred Christian Slaves were chain’d together, and by the _Turks_ placed in a rank before them, who by that means secured themselves, as well as Christians from the furious Attacks of the _Germans_. It was retaken by the _Turks_ two Years after, by an accidental _Bomb_ falling into their _Magazine_ of Powder, that near half the Garrison were destroy’d, with the Fortifications of the City. Pope _Leo_ X. made it a Bishoprick.
[F] _Rhodes_ (Rhodus) is an _Island_ in the _Mediterranean_ Sea, near fifty Leagues in compass; the _Capital_ City, that _Solyman_ besieg’d, takes its name from the _Island_. _Rhodes_ was once famous for a mighty _Colossus_ dedicated to the Sun, of such a monstrous size that Vessels _sail’d_ in _the Harbour_ between its Legs: it was seventy Cubits high. The Brass of this Statue, (after it was thrown down by an Earthquake) loaded seventy-two Camels, and was transported to _Alexandria_ in _Egypt_, when it was taken by _Muhavia_ the Sultan. _Rhodes_ is seated seven Leagues from the nearest Coast of _Asia_ to the South, forty-seven from _Candi_ (another Island in the _Mediterranean_, made famous by the Poets by the name of _Crete_) to the North-East, and a hundred and sixty Leagues from _Constantinople_ to the South. It was first peopled by _Javan_, the Grandson of _Japhet_, before any part of _Greece_ was inhabited: in a few ages after, the _Phœnicians_ (famous for spreading Traffic over the World that was then known) possess’d it. It was made a _Roman Province_ by _Vespasian_. In 654 it was taken by the _Saracens_: in 1124 it was conquer’d by _Venetians_ it was taken in the Year 1227 by _John Ducas_, _Admiral_ of the _Greeks_: in 1283, it fell with all lesser _Asia_ into the hands of the _Othomans_: in 1310, it was taken (after a four Years Siege) by the Knights of St. _John_ of _Jerusalem_, under _Fulk Villers_, an _Englishman_, afterwards _Grand Master_ of the _Order_. It was vainly attempted twice by _Mahomet_ II; till taken by Treachery by _Solyman_ the Magnificent. The _Knights_ of _Rhodes_ retir’d to _Sicily_; till the Year 1530, _Charles_ V. gave them the Grant of the _Island_ of _Malta_, where they have flourish’d ever since, often checking the Insults of the _Turkish_ maritime Power.