Without him and his winged hussars, who knows how things would have turned out?
The Reconquista, which happened in Spain, and which was not a Crusade, did last for centuries. It ended in 1492.
It would perhaps be more accurate to describe Don Quixote as a parody of Christian chivalry. Cervantes would have been quite at home on Saturday Night Live.
Victor Davis Hanson has a fine chapter on Lepanto in His Carnage and Culture: Landmark Battles in the Rise of Western Civilization.
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!!
Our Lady of Guadalupe bump!
The more things change.....
The battle was won on September 11th--adn 318 years later, the Muslims took their revenge at New York City.
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
Without him and his winged hussars, who knows how things would have turned out?
"4. Reform under Grand Vezir Mehmed Sokullu (1565-1579). Sokullu's devsirme party allied with Harem party led by Roxelana (Hurrem Sultan) and party of Jewish bankers led by Dona Gracia Mendes and Don Joseph Nasi. Manages to get Suleyman Kanuni to execute capable son Mustafa and bring to throne incompetent degenerate son Selim II 'the sot'-Sari Selim (Selim the Yellow), Sarhos Selim (Selim the Drunkard). Don Joseph gets Selim II and Sokullu to conquer Cyprus to provide home for Jews fleeing from persecution in Europe. Settlement of East Anatolian Turkomans instead. Leads to formation of new Holy League fleet led by Don Juan of Austria, defeats Ottoman, fleet at Battle of Lepanto (1571). Sokullu rebuilds fleet during winter, regains control of Mediterranean in 1572. Makes major administrative reforms, restores tax system, eliminates corrupt officials. Ottomans complete conquest of Yemen, Gulf fleet restores International trade routes from Far East through Middle East. Ottomans complete conquests of Caucasus, Georgia and Armenia. Successes lead to fall of Sokullu, resumption of decay."