Life of Contreras Ch.1
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2. The Christian forces led by Don John of Austria opposed the Ottoman Turks led by Uchali. The result of the battle ended with the Christians being the victorious ones. In the passage it states, “On that day, I say, on which the Ottoman pride and haughtiness were broken” (pg.218) referring to the loss of the opposing forces. This battle can be seen as a turning point in the struggle between Christians and Ottoman forces when it comes to the control of the Mediterranean. 8. In the text, the term "Bath" refers to a prison where they “keep their Christian captives locked up” (MP.222), by the Turks. The purpose of these Baths is to detain and control these captives, including those who serve the city in public works and other offices. The author, mentions how he had been a captain, but finds himself in one of these Baths. He describes how captives face difficulties within these Baths. Captives in the Baths, especially those belonging to private individuals, may be kept without work and in safety until their ransom is agreed upon. However, for captives belonging to the public works, who have no particular master, it becomes challenging to negotiate their ransom since there is nobody to deal with. The text also mentions that the king's slaves, who are to be ransomed, do not participate in regular work unless their ransom is delayed. In such cases, they are made to work with the rest to increase the urgency of their ransom. The author's life in the Bath gives the reader enough imagery on what it means to be stuck in one since it describes captives' face hunger, nakedness, and being kept in chains, primarily as a sign of ransom rather than for security. Despite conditions, the author notes that he
mingles with other gentlemen and individuals considered ransomable. The text further highlights
the excessive cruelties inflicted by their master on Christians such as daily acts of hanging,
impaling, and cutting off ears for the slightest provocation or sometimes without any apparent reason. Reference: Saavedra, Miguel de Cervantes. “The Captive’s Tale.” Mediterranean Passages: Readings from Dido to Derrida, by Miriam Cooke et al., University of North Carolina Press, 2008, pp. 217–223. 1. What are the origins of Alonso de Contreras as he describes his family?
2. What tragic event takes place early in the life of Alonso? How is it explained by the author? What employment does he find at an early age and why does he abandon it?
3. What is his first role in the army when Alonso joined the forces of the cardinal in Madrid?
4. What was the fate of Alonso’s meager possessions and what does this reveal of soldiers’ life?
5. Who was Master James and how did this changed Alonso’s course in the army?
6. How did Contreras find himself a deserter?
7. In chapter 2 Contreras mentions the Order of Saint John of Malta. Why and where does he join
one of their ships?
8. What was the role of the Order of Malta or the Knights of Saint John in Mediterranean at the time?
9. What type of life did Contreras and the so called “viceroy’s Levantines” lead in the city of Palermo? What was the origin of their prestige?
Hello everyone, I realized my quotes might be difficult to understand since I accidentally purchased a Spanish version of the book. Thankfully I can read and comprehend the text to do the post. 9. The life of Contreras and the “viceroy’s Levantines” in Palermo were characterized by riches and freedom. They accumulated riches through successful raids on both sea and land. The narrator emphasizes the abundance of wealth they brought back from these ventures when he states “fue mucha la riqueza que trujimos” (pg.8) (“took an abundant amount of riches”). It is safe to say Contreras and his associates enjoyed their freedom and protection as Levantes of the Viceroy since their status allowed them to move around without fear of legal repercussions, as mentioned in the text “ con la libertad de ser levantes del Virrey y mero que tenia no habia quien se averiguase con nosotros” (pg.8) (“with the freedom of being Levantes of the Viceroy and the protection he had, there was no one who could confront us"). They moved from inn to inn and house to house without interference. However, there was an incident where they faced a threat in a tavern, resulting in a violent confrontation. They then sought refuge in the church of Nuestra Señorá de Pie de Gruta until they could assess the situation and the Viceroy's response.
The origin of their prestige and influence in Palermo seems to be attributed to their successful maritime exploits and the favor of the Viceroy. The narrator mentions creating a detailed navigation guide (derrotero) of the Levant, including various regions and ports. This contributed to their reputation and may have been appreciated by Prince Filiberto.
10. Contreras' exploits in Naples came to an end when he and his comrades got involved in a violent incident. The incident took place in a wine shop. The disturbance attracted the attention
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of the Italian patrol, but Contreras and one of his comrades retreated. Fearing arrest, Contreras separated from his comrade, escaping capture by slipping through a narrow alley to the harbor. In desperation, Contreras sought refuge in a nearby inn, where he encountered a friend named Captain Betrián. After explaining the situation, Betrián hid Contreras and arranged for Contreras to leave Naples on a ship for Malta. St. John, Native of Madrid, Alfred A. Knopf (1582 to 1633) The Life of Captain of Alonso de Contreras.
11. In chapter 3 Contreras explains how they managed to outwit a superior Moorish force. What was the ruse they employed?
12. What was the cave of the Blessed Virgin and how did it provide aid to sailors?