Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/239

CHAPTER IX.

1402—1476.

Erection of the fortress of St. Peter at Budrum—Treaty with the sultan of Egypt—Conclusion of the papal schism and reunion of the Order—Death of de Naillac and succession of Fluvian—Invasion of Cyprus— Death of Fluvian—Election of Lastic—Descent on Rhodes— Reforms in the Order—Fall of Constantinople—Election of James de Milly— Disputes in the fraternity—Succession of Raymond Zacosta—Formation of an eighth langue—Erection of Fort Nicholas—Departure of Zacosta for Rome—His death there—Succeeded by Orsini—Fall of Negropont—Preparations for defence at Rhodes—Death of Orsini and nomination of Peter d’Aubusson.

The success of Timour in the capture of Smyrna led him to contemplate the further prosecution of his ambitious views by an early attack upon Rhodes. He was, at the time, unprovided with a fleet sufficiently numerous for the operation, and his first efforts were therefore directed to the supply of this deficiency. Before, however, he had succeeded in collecting any considerable number of vessels within the harbour of the now utterly ruined town of Smyrna, intelligence reached him of an invasion of the eastern portion of his dominions by the king of India, who had taken advantage of his absence to assail the unprotected frontier. He was consequently compelled to retire from the scene of his recent successes, and to hasten eastward in order to grapple with his new enemy. Most fortunately for the peace of Europe, and more especially for the security of the Order at Rhodes, Timour did not live to return. Before he had succeeded in repelling the invasion and securing his eastern frontier, he died from the effects of the constant debauchery in which he was plunged. It is curious to note how, during these ages, men constantly sprang from obscurity in the East, and for a time threatened to attain almost universal dominion. Nothing,