The legendary Dragon of Rhodes

When he thought the education of horse and dogs complete, he returned to Rhodes He then rode down the hillside, and towards the haunt of the dragon. His horse was quick to perceive the difference between the true and the false monster and the two dogs were more staunch, and sprang at the animal, whilst their master struck at it with his sword Then a blow from the tail had thrown him down, and the dragon was turning upon him, when the movement left the undefended belly exposed. The knight, thrust his sword into it. There was a death grapple, and finally the servants, coming down the hill, found their knight lying apparently dead under the carcass of the dragon. When they had extricated him, taken off his helmet, he recovered, and presently was led into the city amid the ecstatic shouts of the whole populace, who conducted him in triumph to the palace of the Grand Master.

After the claims of discipline had been established, he became a great favourite with stern old Villeneuve, and the dragon's head was set up over the gate of the city, where Thèvenot professed to have seen it in the seventeenth century, and said that it was larger than that of a horse, with a huge mouth and teeth and very large eyes.

The story is disbelieved by many, but it is hard to suppose it an entire invention, though the description of the monster may have been exaggerated. Archaeologists believe that it must have been a crocodile or a serpent, maybe brought to the island by Pirates. The area, where the dragon died, took the mame ‘Bel Paso’.

Dieudonné de Gozon was elected to the Grand Mastership after the death of Villeneuve, and is said to have voted for himself. However, he was an excellent Grand Master, a great soldier, and much beloved by all the poor peasants of the island, to whom he was exceedingly kind. He died in 1353, and his tomb is said to have been the only inscribed with these words

"Here lies the Dragon Slayer."