Don John of Austria - Last Defender of Europe Against the Turks In the Battle of Lepanto with the Help of Our Lady of Victory, Queen of the Rosary

Don John of Austria was born out of wedlock to Emperor Charles V in 1547. He was raised in court and became a high ranking military commander to his half brother, King Philip II of Spain, himself a heroic saintly man.

The unique friendship that existed between these two half brothers was unheard of during this time. To Philip's credit, he did not allow John's circumstances to interfere with his own good sense and affection. Thankfully this was the case, otherwise, Europe would not be the way we now know it. 

In his epic poem, Lepanto, G.K. Chesterton calls Don John of Austria "the last knight of Europe". In 1571, the Turks threatened the entire European world. Western civilization was at stake. A crusade needed to be called and someone needed to step up to the plate and rally all Europe.

Although he was trying desperately to bring England back into the fold of the Church, Pope Pius V called for someone to meet the Turks in a sea battle. Don John of Austria answered the call as described in the above said poem "Don John of Austria is going to the war".

Photo Credit: Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau Nieto

"What I cannot but resent is the fact that he describes me as being old and one-handed, as if it were in my power to make time stand still for me, or (as if I did not lose my hand in) the greatest occasion that the past or present has ever known or the future may ever hope to see. If my wounds are not resplendent in the eyes of the chance beholder, they are at least highly thought of by those who know where they were received.

So strongly do I feel about this that even if it were possible to work a miracle in my case, I still would rather have taken part in that prodigious battle than be today free of my wounds without having been there."

Little do you know that you know this poet. The poet being mocked was Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra and the literary work being ridiculed was none other than Don Quixote.