Dodecanese The few remaining Knights fled to Malta. Thus began a period of several hundred years in the Ottoman Empire. The Dodecanese formed a separate province within the Eyalet of the Archipelago. The population was allowed to retain a number of privileges provided it submitted to Ottoman rule. By Suleiman's edict, they paid a special tax in return for a special autonomous status that prohibited Ottoman generals from interfering in their civil affairs or mistreating the population. These guarantees, combined with a strategic location at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping, allowed the islands to prosper. The overwhelmingly Greek population (only Rhodes
Island groups of the Philippines the same name, is the chief city of the Visayas. Mindanao's main city is Davao, towards its southeast. Island groups of the Philippines The geographical divisions of the Philippines are the three island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Luzon and Mindanao are both named after the largest island in their respective groups, while the Visayas (also the "Visayan Islands") are an archipelago. Islands are organized into three distinct island group according to regions: Regions "I" to "V", "CAR", and "NCR" are for Luzon, Regions "VI" to "VIII" are for the Visayas, and Regions "IX" to "XIII" and "ARMM" are