u/Orthobrah52102

Exemplary of the Florentine evolution from the late High Middle Ages into and throughout the Renaissance and considered the most important Romano-Gothic church in Tuscany, the church is magnificently decorated and every work of art serves to ornately beautify the church space. Saints line the ribbed vaulting, Biblical scenes cover the apse, side chapels bolster in the crossing, paintings line the walls of the nave, and a massive cloister wraps around the left side of the church. The earliest work is arguably also the most important: Giotto's Crucifix dated between 1288-95, and the latest are several late works done at the tail-end of the Italian Renaissance, for example; Sister Plautilla Nelli's "Last Supper"(1560s), Giorgio Vasari's "Madonna of the Rosary"(1568), Santi di Tito's "Lazarus Raised from the Dead"(1571), and Girolamo Macchietti's "Martyrdom of Saint Laurence"(1573). A nearly 300 year legacy of the evolution of Fine Arts and Religious Iconography.

Also notable, is the burial of the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople within the crossing of the Church, Patriarch Joseph II(tomb pictured on slide 17). He was Patriarch of Constantinople from 1416 to his death in 1439. He was the possibly illegitimate son of Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Shishman and a Greek mother, born in 1360, and also cousin of Bulgarian Tsar Konstantin II. He was a monk on Mount Athos before being elected Metropolitan of Ephesus in 1393, and was then elected and raised to the Patriarchal Throne on May 21st, 1416(interestingly enough, my birthday). During his tenure, in 1431 Patriarch Joseph, along with Emperor John VIII Palaiologos, accompanied by 23 Metropolitans and 700 theologians and scholars, attended the Roman Council of Florence in 1431. Not only is he portrayed here in a very unique blend of Orthodox iconography and Gothic art, but he's also featured in the Magi Chapel of the Palazzo Medici, which illustrates the entrance of Byzantine dignitaries into the city of Florence. He died during the proceedings of the Council in 1439, to much sadness by all present, as despite his Orthodox Faith, he sincerely wished for reunion with the Church of Rome. Having died in Florence, permission was given to have him interred there, rather than bring him back to Constantinople. An even more fascinating aspect of this already incredibly storied church.

Helmed by the stellar leadership of the 49th Grandmaster of the Order Hospitallers of Saint John; Jean de Valette(namesake of Maltese capital city of Valetta), the Knights maintained heroic discipline and refused surrender even when casualties mounted across the 3 and a half week span from May 18th to September 8th. The Hospitallers included battle-hardened men from across Europe, particularly Spanish, Italian, and French knights, supported by Maltese civilians and militia. Morale and defense became religious: the defenders saw themselves as protecting Christian Europe from Ottoman expansion, while the Ottomans expected a quick victory and became increasingly frustrated as losses mounted. The Ottoman commanders also severely blundered in the tactical realm; They disagreed over priorities, especially whether to focus first on Fort St. Elmo or strike directly at the main harbor defenses, and were relatively uncoordinated. The long-waged assault on St. Elmo cost thousands of elite Ottoman troops, including the famous corsair, Admiral Dragut, whose death heavily damaged Ottoman morale. Disease, heat, supply strain, and relentless counterattacks gradually weakened the besieging army. By September, the Ottomans had suffered catastrophic casualties and were exhausted. The Hospitallers did not need to destroy the Ottoman army outright; they only needed to survive long enough for relief forces from Sicily to arrive. When a Spanish-led relief army finally landed in September 1565, the Ottomans, who were already depleted and fearing entrapment, decided to withdraw and retreat. The victory became one of the most celebrated events of 16th-century Europe, to the point that the world-famed historian Voltaire said: "Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta." The Ottoman Empire would continue to attempt expansion into Europe over the next century, and the Mediterranean would continue to be contested by the likes of Spain, Portugal, and the Ottomans, but Malta was the real turning point in the European perception of Ottoman power; The failed siege became one of the Empire’s most famous failures, dramatically enhanced the reputation of the Knights Hospitaller across Europe, and permanently ended in the European mind, the idea of Ottoman invincibility in battle.

I was lucky enough, when visiting Malta 3 years ago, to see the Co-Cathedral, built in 1572 in celebratinon and Thanksgiving to God for both this victory and the victory at Lepanto. The tombs of many of the Knights are kept here, both in the Grandmaster's crypt under the altar, and the floor of the church are entirely lined with decorated marble tombs. Included after the 4th picture are the photos I took from my visit.

I'm a sucker for Imperial Eagles. Saw this and had to pick it up.

From left to right, first row through to bottom;

*-Top Row-*

- Contemporary Counterfeit of a Slavonia Denar, probably anywhere from 1230s-1300s

-Denar, Queen Maria, R.1382-1386, M.1384

-Holy Roman Empire, Duchy of Austria, Duke Albert II, 1411-1439

-2 Quartings/¼Denars, Sigismund of Luxembourg, R.1387-1437, M.1430-1437

*-Middle Row-*

-2 Billon Denars, King Władysław III of Poland(reign as King of Hungary and Croatia)R.1440-1444

-Denar, Regent John Hunyadi, R.1446-1453, M.1446

-2 Denars[Crow Type], King Matthias Hunyadi(Corvinus), R.1457-1490, M.1465

*-Bottom Row-*

-Still unidentified, has shields of arms on both obverse and reverse, am unsure of reverse arms.

-Contemporary Counterfeit of a King Ferdinand Denar, R.1526-1564

Forgot to share when I acquired them, but so what if they're a little past acquisition date? Better late than never right?