Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/336

306 same time that Charles V. was crowned emperor of Germany at Aix-la-Chapelle, and he was destined, during the course of his long reign, to become the most illustrious of that race of conquerors from whom he sprang, and to earn for himself the title of Solyman the Magnificent.

He had not long enjoyed his sovereignty when he was compelled to advance against the newly-appointed governor of Syria. Gazelles, the Mamelouk traitor, who had been placed over the province by Selim, conceived that as that redoubtable chieftain was dead, the opportunity was favourable for a revolt against his youthful successor, and for his own establishment in independent power. In aid of this project he besought the alliance of Carretto, who, overjoyed at the prospect of a dissension which might divert the menacing attitude of the Ottoman emperor, assisted him with both men and matériel. The power of Solyman proved too great for Gazelles to withstand; in the very first engagement which ensued his forces were routed, and he himself killed on the field of battle.

This was the closing political incident in the life of Fabricius Carretto, and he breathed his last in the month of January, 1521. His tomb was placed beneath one of the windows in the nave of the church of St. John. It is thus described by Newton:—“In the pavement of the nave are the remains of the tomb of the Grand-Master Fabricio del Carretto. His effigy, which must have been sculptured in low relief on a flat slab, has been destroyed, but the border still remains (1853) with an inscription at the foot recording his name, titles, and services, with the date 1520 (this should be 1521). At the head of the slab was his escutcheon. Carretto was the last Grand-Master buried at Rhodes.”

The knights had now been resident hi the island for a period of upwards of 200 years, and the hour was close at hand when they were to be driven from its shores. It seems, therefore, a suitable time to enter into some detailed description of its state in this the last year of their dominion. A general account of the town and fortifications has already been given as they stood at