Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/439

Rh who survived to bear the tale of the disaster to Malta was but comparatively small.

The failure of this expedition rendered the position of Tripoli still more precarious. In this crisis the Grand-Master and council selected for the onerous post of governor a knight of the langue of Provence, called John de la Valette, a name which subsequent events rendered one of the most illustrious in the annals of his fraternity. Even at that time La Valette had distinguished himself by his bravery and zeal in numerous cruising expeditions against the Turks, he had never quitted the convent from the day of his first profession, except on the occasions of these caravans or cruises, and he had gradually risen from post to post within its ranks until he had attained a high position.

The fate of Tripoli was destined, however, to be postponed for yet a little while, and La Valette avoided the painful duty of its government before the blow fell. Meanwhile, Malta itself had a very narrow escape from suffering a similar catastrophe. Barbarossa had died at Constantinople, and was succeeded in the command of the Turkish fleet by his lieutenant, Dragut. This man had attained a notoriety in the Mediterranean, second only to that of his chief, and this addition to his power was followed by prompt and decisive measures. He possessed himself of the town of Mehedia, a port situated midway between Tunis and Tripoli, where he established a naval depôt in the most dangerous contiguity to the latter stronghold. D’Omedes viewed with very natural alarm the fresh danger which menaced his feeble outpost, and he persuaded the emperor to direct an expedition against this new foe.

Charles was the more readily induced to accede to this request because he was desirous of wiping out the stigma of his late failure in the attack on Algiers, and also because the proximity of the Turkish corsair menaced the coasts of Naples and Sicily. The Order of St. John despatched a contingent to join the main force, which was under the command of Doria. This auxiliary body consisted of 140 knights and 500 hired soldiers, the whole being under the command of the bailiff Do is. Sangle. The siege of Mehedia took place in