Posted on 10/7/2004, 4:47:44 PM by omega4412
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto, October 7, 1571, in which a Christian navy under Don John of Austria defeated the Turks.
Commemorated in G K Chesterton's poem Lepanto. An excerpt...as Don John approaches, Mohammed ("Mahound") speaking to his demons...
"But a noise is in the mountains, in the mountains, and I know
The voice that shook our palaces—four hundred years ago:
It is he that saith not 'Kismet'; it is he that knows not Fate;
It is Richard, it is Raymond, it is Godfrey at the gate!
It is he whose loss is laughter when he counts the wager worth..."
Fans of the poem might like the book "Lepanto by G K Chesterton," edited by Dale Ahlquist, on the historical and literary background of the poem. Ahlquist writes,
"So the problem with the poem is that it is a defense of the Catholic Church, of the Crusades, and of war: three things not generally looked kindly upon in today's English literature classes. Of course, neither are rhyme and meter. The only 20th century poetry that is permitted to be studied is that which clashes with everything: with the ear, with history, and with common sense."
More on the history
This probably isn't even taught in schools anymore; with the mean Christians defeating the Religion of Peace and all.
Is'nt Austria land locked?
Well, my students have to write a paper on it because we use "Carnage and Culture" as our textbook!
I just bought that book last week & read it. Awesome.
In September of 1571, Don John moved the Catholic fleet east to intercept the Turks at Corfu, but the Turks had already landed, terrorized the population, and then moved on. While anchored off the coast of Cephalonia, news reached Don John that the Christian stronghold at Famagusta on Cyprus had fallen to the Turks, with all prisoners being tortured and then executed by the Moslems.
Over 12,000 Catholic galley slaves had also been rescued from the Moslems.
When news of the victory finally reached Europe, church bells rang out in cities all across the continent. The Battle of Lepanto was a decisive victory, with only 40 of the over 300 Moslem ships surviving the engagement. The Turkish force of some 75,000 men was in ruins.
MATAMOROS
Actually, it's "isn't". Basic history lesson. By "Austria" here is meant the Hapsburg Holy Roman Empire which embraced Spain, Austria, the Low Countries, and much of Germany and Italy. The world's first global superpower.
Austrian-ruled territory has only been landlocked since 1919.
In another related event, Oct. 7, 2001, America began bombing the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Christians need to understand their own history.
Tangential? Another skirmish in a war that began in 600-whatever A.D.
In a truly unrelated coincidence Oct. 7th is George Nethercutt's 60th birthday.
If you liked Carnage and Culture, you'll love The Soul of Battle, also by Victor Davis Hansen. I'm almost done with it now, and it is GOOD.
Lepanto is also a small town in Arkansas. I remember back when Rick Dees was a Memphis disk jockey, one of his many characters would often refer to "LePantyhose, Arkansas."
I'd love to have a "Lepanto" T-shirt.
Fundraiser idea for your students?
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