The Miracle At Lepanto...

unknown ^ | October 24, 1998 | unknown

[Restorer]

Don Quixote is obviously a work of multiple levels.

One of those, however, is a parody of centuries of European "romances," which as a literary form had become absolutely ridiculous. Cervantes blew the entire genre out of the water with a gust of fresh air.

[MattinNJ]

Thanks. I think you are right.

[justshutupandtakeit]

True, but the satire is not really of the Christian aspect of chivalry but rather the more fantastic notions of distant lands and beings. Cervantes was also captured at Lepanto and was held prisoner for some time before he was ransomed.

[profmike23]

Please add me to the list.

Thanks.

[r9etb]

Their ships ruled the Mediterranean Sea from the Strait of Bosporus to the Strait of Gibraltar and constantly preyed on Christian vessels unless they flew the French flag.

The more things change.....

[Vic3O3]

historical battle ping

[power2]

It seems far more likely that prayers to God will be more effective than planning or threatening to enter every Moslem nation that appears to pose a threat or house some band of terrorists. I cannot imagine a more certain way to ensure that terrorist attacks will increase than to try to show over a billion Muslims,spread all over the world,including our own country, who's boss.I call this present plan,MAD;mutually assured destruction.

I prefer the Lepanto Plan!!

Good thing neither Pope Pious V nor Don John shared your view, or they wouldn't have fought the muslims. The muslim aim hasn't changed in the last 600 years--they still intend to force you to convert or kill you. I think just standing around waiting for them is a mistake...and if a country is harboring terrorists that struck our citizens, then that country SHOULD and WILL pay a price.

[ninenot]

in 1683 the Moslems again swept into Europe. With 200,000 men, they laid siege to Vienna. After months of valiant resistance by a small garrison, the city was relieved by an army under John Sobieski, King of Poland. The Rosary, to which the King was dedicated, was again instrumental in a military victory. Pope Innocent XI consecrated September 12 of that year to the Holy Name of Mary

The battle was won on September 11th--adn 318 years later, the Muslims took their revenge at New York City.

[ninenot]

It is also clear why the Vatican has made such an effort to work WITH Moslem mullahs rather than AGAINST them on a variety of fronts. JPII wants them to understand that they and Christians have many common understandings (certainly a number of differences....but)...

[BohDaThone]

Read Chesterton's poem, "Lepanto

Excerpt, about Don John of Austria, the leader of the fleet attacking the Turkish Moslems:

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,
Put down your feet upon him, that our peace be on the earth."
For he heard drums groaning and he heard guns jar,
(Don John of Austria is going to the war.)
Sudden and still--hurrah!
Bolt from Iberia!

Lots of good analogies to today, as well as some of the most glorious, blood-thumping, adventure-laden language in all of poetry.

Full text at: http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Alley/5443/leppoem.htm

[saradippity]

I wonder if Pope Pius would have sent Don Juan off to battle if he thought that Don Juan's crews were infiltrated with unidentified Muslims,who were ready to die as they blew up Don Juan's ships at the onset of the battle.What do you think?

Or would Pope Pius have sent him into battle if he knew that the Muslims carried innocent women and children,Christian and Muslim,that would be killed with every hit Don Juan scored?

What about if both conditions existed?

We are looking to use old techniques in a much changed world. The old world is no more,why can't every one see that. Please understand that I am not advocating buckling to evil or a "peace at any cost" position. I am only asking that we take a close careful look at "cui bono",and reassess our operations in the light of reality.

[Da_Shrimp]

Lepanto bump, and Jan Sobieski bump too!

Without him and his winged hussars, who knows how things would have turned out?

[Publius6961]

BUMP

[Publius6961]

Cervantes lost his hand during the battle of Lepanto, and became known as the man of le mancha(sp?). I believe it's translated into the man with one hand in english.

Ummm.... no.

He was from the province of La Mancha in Spain.

His Spanish nickname "El Manco de Lepanto" has no direct equivalent in English and, yes, it does mean "missing one hand".

[desertcry]

And here they are again, 9.11.01!

[Tax-chick]

La Manche, "The Sleeve," back when Spanish and French were more closely related. But he didn't lose his arm, did he ...

[BohDaThone]

The Turkish galleys were largely rowed by Christian slaves (See the Chesterton poem, noted above), so part of your scenario of innocents being killed by the Christian attack was certainly true -- many of the slaves were killed, though many others were freed.

[pariah]

I've only ever come across the Depardieu version

The translation is by Brian Hooker, Bantam Books, first Edition, 1950.

[Jarhead_22]

That's reminiscent of the Amercan POWs in the Hanoi Hilton cheering as the complex was targeted by B-52s.

[nutmeg]

bump to read later