AUBUSSON, PIERRE D'

AUBUSSON, PIERRE d'. – Cardinal, born in 1423, died at Rhodes in 1503. Having entered the Order of the Knights of Rhodes at an early age, he gradually attained the office of grand master in 1476. He demonstrated his great valor when, after Venice’s agreement with the Turk (1478), he remained alone to defend Rhodes and the whole of the Christian West against the threat of the Muslims; he took every possible measure to protect the island, gathered the knights there for its defense, and when, in 1480, Rhodes was attacked by formidable enemy forces, he succeeded, after an epic struggle, in driving them back into the sea. When the sultan died the following year and his heirs, Baiazet and Gem (Djem), came to blows over the succession, A. received the latter, who had been defeated, with a broad safe-conduct and a promise of protection, hoping to profit from him, both to restrain Baiazet from further offensive ventures and to attempt, at the opportune moment, to wrest Greece and the Archipelago from him. For greater security Gem was transferred to France, still under the protection of the Order (1482). For his political designs Innocent VIII wished to have Gem in Rome; in exchange, d'A. received the cardinal’s hat in March 1489. Alexander VI then took over Gem’s custody, and d'A. was unable to oppose him. Charles VIII, entering Rome in 1494, demanded Gem’s surrender; the latter died shortly afterward, not without suspicion of poisoning.