Genoese occupation of Rhodes The Genoese occupation of Rhodes refers to the period between 1248 and late 1249 / early 1250 during which the city of Rhodes and parts of the island were under Genoese control . The Genoese took possession of the city and island , a dependency of the Empire of Nicaea , in a surprise attack in 1248 , and held it , with aid from the Principality of Achaea , against Nicaean attacks until 1250 . Background . Rhodes and its nearby islands had been detached from the control of the central Byzantine government already since before the fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade in 1204 . Under the rule of the " Caesar " Leo Gabalas , the island became the center of a practically independent domain , although at times Gabalas seems to have acknowledged the suzerainty of the major Byzantine Greek successor state , the Empire of Nicaea . Leo ' s brother and successor , John Gabalas , who succeeded him probably in the early 1240s , was clearly in a less powerful position , as he is only mentioned as " Master of Rhodes " . Genoese occupation and Nicaean reconquest . In 1248 , when John Gabalas was absent from the island in a Nicaean campaign against the Latin Empire , the Genoese exploited his absence and in a surprise night attack seized the city of Rhodes , the island ' s capital , and soon expanded their control over the remainder of the island . The Nicaean emperor , John III Vatatzes , reacted swiftly , sending a fleet to the island , led by the " pinkernes " and " doux " of the Thracesian Theme , John Kantakouzenos . Kantakouzenos , although he did not have many men , managed to recover the fortress towns of Lindos and Phileremos . As soon as reinforcements arrived , he moved against the island ' s capital , where he blockaded the Genoese . Kantakouzenos laid siege to the city , but Rhodes was well provisioned and the siege continued over the winter of 1248 – 1249 into spring . According to the account of George Akropolites the city was on the verge of falling , when , in early May 1249 , William II of Villehardouin , the Prince of Achaea , arrived on the island on his way to join the Eighth Crusade in the Holy Land . This caused the Nicaeans to raise the siege and fall back to Phileremos . William quickly concluded an agreement with the Genoese , and left behind a hundred of his knights to aid them before departing for the Holy Land . The Genoese now reversed the situation and besieged the Greeks at Phileremos both by land and sea , while the Achaeans ravaged the countryside . When Emperor John Vatatzes was informed of these events , he went to Nymphaion , and ordered another expeditionary force to be prepared in Smyrna , comprising 300 horse under the " protosebastos " Theodore Kontostephanos , to whom Vatatzes gave written instructions for the campaign . The arrival of Kontostephanos and his men once again tipped the balance : the Greek troops caught the Achaeans off guard while they were scattered plundering , and killed them all . The Genoese fled back to the city of Rhodes , but as they were unable to withstand another siege , they agreed to surrender it in exchange for their safe departure . This took place either in late 1249 or early 1250 . Aftermath . Following the eviction of the Genoese , Rhodes became fully incorporated into the Empire of Nicaea , and Gabalas family rule was discontinued . Around 1256 , the island ' s government was entrusted to John Palaiologos , the younger brother of future emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos .