Dr. Nora Baker (Université Libre de Bruxelles): „Encounters with the Other in the Early Modern Mediterranean: Confrontations and Exoticisation aboard Louis XIV’s galley ships“ Englischsprachiger Vortrag im Rahmen des TRANSMARE-Kolloquiums von Dr. Nora Baker (Université Libre de Bruxelles) Encounters with the Other in the Early Modern Mediterranean: Confrontations and Exoticisation aboard Louis XIV’s galley ships Following the proscription of their religion in 1685, French Protestants who were apprehended while trying to leave their home county were liable to be condemned to toil on the Sun King’s galleys. These huge ships functioned as symbols of royal power, and could be used in battle against the enemy. The life of a galley slave onboard these vessels was not easy, as the enslaved were often subject to harsh treatment, and illnesses spread easily in close confines. However, the galleys could also be sites of human connection, as individuals from a range of backgrounds who may not have encountered one other on land were forced into proximity. Writings by those who spent time at sea describe Catholics bonding with Protestants, and Protestants connecting with Muslim captives from the Ottoman Empire. This paper, adapted from the second chapter of my forthcoming monograph, will take the accounts of two men who spent time on the galleys — Jean-François Bion (1668-c.1735) and Jean Marteilhe (1684-1777) — as case studies. These writers had different experiences at sea: Marteilhe was sentenced to galley slavery, whereas Bion was initially employed as a Catholic chaplain on the ships, though he later converted to Protestantism. In spite of these differences in status, however, I argue that the transitory essence of the sea voyages upon which these men embarked, whether willingly or unwillingly, affected their worldviews and senses of identity, as can be seen in their respective writings. The conflicts and confrontations which play out in this maritime world are manifold, and they revolve around issues of religion, race, class, and martyrdom, with frequent emphasis on the salutary benefits of suffering and the sense of authority associated with having been an eyewitness to key events. Futhermore, waterways, from the Mediterranean Sea, to the English Channel, and the Thames River in London, play a significant role in these galley narrative, even when seemingly only present as backdrops to events; the texts are thus imbued with a sense of fluidity and mobility. Close reading of these sources highlights not only the volatility of existence in this world, but also how this volatility could haunt authors following the end of their shipbound experience. + Zu Google Kalender hinzufügen + iCal / Outlook export Datum Mai 27 2026 Vorbei! Uhrzeit 18:00 - 20:00 Veranstaltungsort Universität Trier, B16 Universität Trier, B16 Teile diese Veranstaltung
