Walking the outer walls of the Castle Of St. Peter The Liberator in Bodrum (Turkey).

The castle was constructed by the Knights Hospitaller in the 15th century. The fortress became known as the Castle of St. Peter The Liberator because it served as the sole place of refuge for all Christians on the west coast of Asia Minor. For over a century the Castle of St. Peter served as an integral stronghold in the Order of St. John community. The Ottoman Empire continued to grow, however, and in 1453 Mehmet II, Sultan of Turkey, conquered Constantinople and announced his aggressive intentions towards the Knights' holdings. The Knights Hospitaller resisted his attack, however, as well as another in 1480. By 1521, Turkish leader Suleyman the Magnificent was ready to challenge the Order's headquarters in Rhodes. After an exchange of letters with Grand Master Fabrico del Carretto war was declared. In June 1522, 200.000 Turkish soldiers gathered in the Bay of Marmaris.