Rhodes (,
Ródos ) is the largest of the
Dodecanese islands in terms of land area and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the
Rhodes regional unit, which is part of the
South Aegean region. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is
Rhodes. The city of Rhodes had 50,636 inhabitants in 2011. It is located northeast of
Crete, southeast of
Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of
Turkey. Rhodes' nickname is
The island of the Knights, named after the
Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, who once conquered the land.