Until the advent of materialism and 19th c. dogma, Western Civilisation was superior to anything Islam had developed. Islam has not aided in the development of the modern world; in fact civilisation has only been created in spite of Islam. Proof of this resides in the 'modern' world and the unending political-economic and spiritual poverty of Muslim states and regions. Squatting on richer civilisations is not 'progress'. Islam is pagan, totalitarian, and irrational.
On August 7th, 1571, the Ottoman Empire captured the city of Famagusta, Cyprus from the Venetians after an almost year long siege. Pope Pious V had created the Holy League which consisted of the Spanish Empire, several Italian city-states and the Knights of St. John to rescue the city but they had set out too late. Wanting revenge for Famagusta, The League came up with a plan to lure out and defeat the Ottoman Navy.
At dawn on October 7th, a small galley belonging to The League spotted the Ottoman Navy off the coast of Lepanto. The Holy League had 212 ships and 65k men(30k sailors and 35k soldiers) and was led by Don John of Austria. The Ottomans had 278 ships and 67k men(37k sailors and slaves, and 30k soldiers) and was led by Müezzinzade Ali Pasha. The Europeans had an advantage over the Turks as their forces were modernized with all soldiers armed with firearms and ships having many more cannons on board, where as the Turks were still mostly using bows and arrows and most ships having few cannons.
Before the battle began the entirety of the League's forces prayed the rosery and the Blessed Sacrament was administered to everyone. The Ottomans made the opening move and advanced their fleet towards the League's formation. The wind initially favored the Ottomans, but during their advance miraculously changed direction in favor of the League severely slowing the Ottomans' advance. The League's ships then opened fired on the Ottomans sinking or disabling many of them. As the Ottoman ships approached the Europeans began angerly shouting "Famagusta!" at the Turks. The Ottoman left wing struck the League's left wing first and after hard fighting the League sunk or captured all of the Ottoman ships. The Ottoman center then struck the League's center. As Müezzinzade's flagship was advancing it became separated from the rest of the formation. The League's ships noticed this and surrounded the flagship and boarded it. Müezzinzade was then killed in melee combat and his ship captured. The Ottoman center then fell apart with ships being captured, sunk, or fleeing the battle. The League then combined their center and left and attacked the Ottoman right wing which was winning against the League's right. Realizing he was now badly outnumbered the remaining Ottoman captain Uluj Ali ordered his ships to retreat. The League pursued the Ottomans, but eventually they got away. The battle lasted around 4 hours.
The League lost 13 ships and 7.5k men the Ottomans lost 50 ships and over 30k men. The League also captured over 120 Ottoman ships and freed over 10k European galley slaves. Very few prisoners were taken as word of the horrific treatment of Europeans fleeing Famagusta had reached the League, so Ottomans were simply executed upon surrendering. The Battle of Lepanto marked a turning point in Europe's struggle against the Ottoman Empire and dispelled the myth of "Ottoman invincibility" at sea as well as being one of the last naval battles that rowing galleys were used in.
Christians in Nigeria have faced sporadic persecution since the 1950s, but the past 25 years have seen a wave of violence that is swiftly becoming a slow-motion genocide. Despite that, the international community has for the most part turned a deliberate blind eye on the weekly killings; when pressed for comment, everything from conflicts over grazing land to climate change have been cited as the real reasons behind the ongoing persecution.
Persecution of Christians in Nigeria began to spike after 1999, when 12 northern states adopted Sharia law; the rise of the terrorist group Boko Haram in 2009 marked a dramatic escalation. Famously, Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in 2014. Christian girls were targeted for forced conversion and marriage to Muslim fighters; 87 of the girls are still cited as “missing” 11 years later.
In addition to Boko Haram, attacks on Christians are carried out by the Islamic State West Africa Province and radicalized Fulani herdsman. According to one Nigerian NGO, over 50,000 Christians have been killed since 2009 alone – and not because of “climate change.”
On July 25th, Spain commemorates its patron saint, James, son of Zebedee. Known primarily as the elder brother of John the Evangelist, for more than a thousand years he was far better known as Santiago Matamoros — St. James the Moor (that is, Muslim) slayer — and was the embodiment of Spain’s holy war against Islam.
On this of all days, recalling his story seems not only appropriate but necessary.
No More Tribute
In the year 711, Muslims from North Africa poured into Christian Spain—a land many believe St. James himself evangelized after Christ’s death and resurrection.
First, not all of the Spanish peninsula was conquered; a remnant of Christians who refused to bow to Muslim rule retreated into the mountainous region of Asturias in the northwest.
Second, Muslim aggression continued against this fledgling Christian enclave until the late eighth century, when a fragile peace was struck on the humiliating condition that the Christian king of Asturias send 100 virgin girls each year to the emir of Córdoba.
This vile arrangement persisted for decades, until King Ramiro I (r. 842–850) ascended the throne and ended it.
Muslim retribution was swift and terrible. Ramiro’s defiance was viewed not simply as political rebellion but as a blasphemous insult to Islamic supremacy. In response, the emir of Córdoba dispatched a massive army northward to crush the impudent Christians once and for all.
Divine Visitation
According to the chronicles, the Muslim force numbered some 60,000 Arab and Berber warriors gathered from across al-Andalus. Ramiro could muster only 5,000 — a small force of Asturian and Galician warriors armed more with faith than with steel. The two armies met near the town of Clavijo in the rugged hills of La Rioja. The Christians steeled themselves for annihilation. As night fell, King Ramiro withdrew to his tent and prayed for divine aid.
That aid came in the form of a vision. St. James the Greater — apostle of Christ and evangelist of Iberia — appeared to the king: radiant, sword drawn, mounted on a white horse. He promised to ride with the Christian army into battle and crush the enemies of Christ.
Ramiro awoke transformed.
“Saint James fights for us!” he was heard crying before sunrise, as his confused men slowly began to gather. “Let the enemies of Christ fall beneath his sword!”
Blaze of Glory
As the sun broke over the hills on May 23, 844, Christian soldiers reported seeing a dazzling figure on horseback descending from the mountains. It was Santiago, clad in shining armor and slashing through Muslim ranks like divine lightning. With the rallying cry “St. James, and strike for Spain!” the Christians charged, emboldened by the presence of their heavenly commander.
What should have been a slaughter of Christians turned into a complete reversal. The Córdoban army was shattered and routed. Later accounts claimed that every last Muslim soldier was slain, their blood sanctifying the soil of Spain.
King Ramiro emerged victorious and swore eternal devotion to St. James. He vowed to raise churches in the apostle’s honor, to make a yearly pilgrimage to his tomb at Santiago de Compostela, and to revere him as the Patron and Protector of Spain. The tribute of 100 virgin Christian girls faded into memory.
Historical Hero
In time, Santiago Matamoros became the divine icon of Christian Spain, enshrined in countless works of art and sculpture: sword raised high, trampling Muslims beneath the hooves of his white charger.
“With Santiago leading us, we shall trample the Crescent beneath the hooves of our horses,” a Castilian noble declared before charging into battle centuries later.
At the pivotal battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, another chronicler exulted: “Santiago, destroyer of Moors, has descended from heaven with a burning sword! Praise be to God, who has shown us His champion!”
Muslim chroniclers, too, took note of this terrifying “apparition” and the fervent devotion it inspired among Christians. “The Franks call upon a dead apostle,” complained Ibn al-Khatib 500 years later, “and yet their banners advance while ours retreat.”
Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West and Sword and Scimitar, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.