The Knights of St John surrendered Rhodes in 1522, sailed away with 4,000 islanders, and rented Malta from the Emperor for a falcon a year

In June 1522 an Ottoman fleet of about 700 ships landed some 20,000 troops, later reinforced many times over. Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam had about 500 knights and 1,500 mercenaries. Negotiations began on 1 December, and Villiers surrendered on 27 December 1522. Suleiman let the surviving knights leave with honour and their arms, and the knights' carved coats of arms were left on the walls. On 1 January 1523 about 50 ships sailed west with 180 knights and some 4,000 Rhodians. The Order had no home. Pope Clement VII, a former knight, gave it Viterbo as a temporary residence, and Villiers went from court to court. In March 1530 Emperor Charles V granted the knights Malta and Tripoli as a fief. The only rent was a falcon sent each year on All Souls' Day to the Viceroy of Sicily. Tripoli fell to Dragut in 1551. The knights made Fort St Angelo their headquarters and held it through the Great Siege of 1565. Villiers died in 1534. The Order kept Malta until 1798.