Hundreds of years of Muslim conquests came to a head at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7 in the year 1571. Islamic forces had been spreading through force of arms, capturing or pillaging every Christian settlement across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. The Ottoman Empire had formed out of TurkeyContinue reading “Historic Events: The Battle of Lepanto”
Author Archives: Louis
Heroes From History: Hugues de Payens
Recently, I have been reading more about historical knights and their great deeds. This month of October, I also found there to be several important historical events involving knights and other prominent warriors of Christendom. This month marks the 450th anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571. Yesterday was also the 1289thContinue reading “Heroes From History: Hugues de Payens”
The Texas Revolution Began on October 2, 1835
This weekend was the anniversary of the Texas Revolution in 1835. This armed conflict is also known as the “Texas War of Independence.” It was a brief dispute in which the Republic of Texas rebelled against the government of Mexico. The notorious “Gonzales Flag” was born out of this conflict and inspired many reimagined versionsContinue reading “The Texas Revolution Began on October 2, 1835”
Dust Settles Back Where It First Flew: A Haiku Series
As many of you may know, the Star Spangled Banner was written on September 14, 1814 by Francis Scott Key. September has an eventful month in human history with many prominent occasions to note. It can difficult to decide for which to account on a weekly basis. Yet, I still wished to write something aboutContinue reading “Dust Settles Back Where It First Flew: A Haiku Series”
Constitution Day in the United States
On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers of the United States signed the U.S. Constitution. The holiday was originally “I Am an American Day” and was observed on the third Sunday in May, first established as a federal holiday in 1940. Twelve years later in 1952, it was changed to September 17 and renamed “ConstitutionContinue reading “Constitution Day in the United States”
The Value of a Nation
As I saw so many posts remembering the loss and the sacrifice that characterize our collective memories of the September 11 terrorist attacks, I was prompted to ponder the national response and massive relief effort which took place in the wake of the attacks. For those unfamiliar with the context, on September 11, 2001, aContinue reading “The Value of a Nation”
Fateful Flight of the Stars and Stripes
This weekend was the 244th anniversary of the first time the American Flag was flown in battle. On September 3, 1777 the red, white, and blue banner with thirteen stars and thirteen stripes was first flown during the Battle of Cooch’s Bride in Delaware. Under the command of General William Maxwell, Continental forces raised theContinue reading “Fateful Flight of the Stars and Stripes”
The Monomyth and “Hero’s Journey”
The Monomyth is a 17-step guide for creating a story, separated into three acts. It was first defined as such by Joseph Campbell, and later refined into the 12-step Hero’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. However, this formula was not something created by Joseph Campbell or any other individual. Rather, it would be more accurate toContinue reading “The Monomyth and “Hero’s Journey””
Before the Dawn: A Dramatic Monologue/Soliloquy
Here is my first attempt at a new form of poetry I have never written before: a dramatic monologue/soliloquy. I wrote it while contemplating the common phrase “the night is always darkest before the dawn.” Please enjoy! The night is darkest before the dawn, as I am so often told. Walking through the halls ofContinue reading “Before the Dawn: A Dramatic Monologue/Soliloquy”
Dramatic Monologue and Soliloquy
A dramatic monologue or soliloquy is an interesting format for writing poetry. It is a poem written in the form of a speech. There are many applications of a dramatic monologue in writing. It can be used to convey a vivid scene, rich with detail and sensory experience. It can also be used to expressContinue reading “Dramatic Monologue and Soliloquy”
The Pensive Warrior 