Don John's Statue in Messina.

The statue stands near the cathedral in Messina, setting of Shakespeare's play Much Ado. The statue commemorates Don John's role as Admiral of the European fleet that defeated the Turkish one at Lepanto in 1571 and thus temporarily halted the Muslim assault on Europe. Unfortunately the illegitimate Don John was humiliated thereafter by his half-brother the King of Spain, leading to the same tensions as we see after the battle at the start of Shakespeare's play Much Ado between the Bastard Don John and the King of Castille. See Hugh M. Richmond, "Much Ado About Notables," Shakespeare Studies , XII (1979), 49-63. Image: UCB Shakespeare Program Collection, by Velma E.B. Richmond.