Anthony Sherley (1565-1633) was one of three brothers from a gentry family in Sussex, known for their captivating adventures abroad that fascinated their contemporaries. While their exploits were celebrated and exaggerated in printed pamphlets and a London play, they are largely forgotten today. Anthony served as a soldier in France and the Netherlands before becoming an unsuccessful privateer. His patron, the Earl of Essex, later selected him to lead a mission to Ferrara, which ultimately failed. Taking initiative, Sherley embarked on a perilous journey across Turkey to Persia, hoping to convince Shah Abbas to ally with the West against their mutual enemy, the Ottoman Empire. Surprisingly, Shah Abbas approved Sherley’s plan and sent him back to Europe as his ambassador.
However, subsequent events took a turn for the worse. Essex lost his influence at court and was eventually executed for treason, leaving Sherley stranded without permission to return to England. Alone, he sought new ways to survive, experiencing various episodes in Venice and Morocco before ultimately working for Spain. He was appointed to command a fleet aimed at halting pirate attacks on Spanish possessions, but after this venture failed, he was forced to retire to Granada, living the remainder of his life on a meager royal pension. Despite his circumstances, he continued to offer advice based on his experiences to the Spanish king and his ministers.
This book will focus on Sherley’s career while also expanding the narrative to include chapters on his father and two brothers, as well as insights into Persia and Shah Abbas, the king he met. Anthony Sherley was an irascible and complex figure, often criticized and disliked. This biography takes a more sympathetic approach than previous accounts, exploring his self-fashioning and belief in personal honor, which may explain some of his missteps, particularly following his patron’s death.
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