User:Yellow Ledbetter

Location:	Brazil
Gender:	Male

"I know I was born and I know that I'll die. The in-between is mine: I Am Mine."

―Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam).

Yellow Ledbetter, otherwise unknown for his real name, is descendant of an old Florentine noble family, popular on his country, but lost it's italian roots through the pages of history.

This subject adopted the name after a poetic, philosophical and musical reference from the American rock band Pearl Jam, formed in 1990

Heritage

The Family

The origins of the italian family Cavalcanti are unkown. Nevertheless, a legends tells that fours brothers from Castle San Giglio, in Cologne, accompanied Charlemagne in 774 a.C, who has been called by the Pope Adrian I, ongoings that would result on his recognition as King of Lombards and Franks. One of them stood in Firenze. It is said that the surname Cavalcanti derived from cavalcati, that means "on horseback" or it alludes to the word "horseman". It is believed that the surname was adopted by the descendants of this fourth brother, wich arose in power as noble rich merchants in Firenze.

Rise of Cavalcanti

The oldest member of the family is dated on the year 1000 a.C, Domenico Cavalcanti. By the way, their fame went a hundread years later, since the eve of the Republic in Florence - wich counsil has made the presence of the Cavalcantis in a notable way. By the late XII century, they were owners of the Castello Stinche, Castello Montecalvi and Castello Ostino e Luco. Their emblem carried a shield full of crosses, but it is unknown if there were Templar connections, specially after their descendants. By the way, the Cavalcanti family was one of the most notable of Florence, earning respect and power by a huge control of market.

Guelphs, Ghibellines and Dante Alighieri

Since the 12th and 13th centuries, the tensions between the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope have grown. Specially in northern and central Italy emerged two factions: the Guelphs - those who stand on Pope's side - and the Ghibellines - thos who would stand against the Pope and on the Emperor's side. The Cavalcanti family stood by the Guelphs side, but their power was being shaken by political struggles, specially in 1248 and 1250. The family also wasn't successfull in the Battle of Montaperti, in 1260.

In the consequences of this context, Dante Alighieri was best friended with Guido Cavalcanti, a poet and influence for the italian Assassin . He was born in the conflict, son of Cavalcante de' Cavalcanti, a florentine epicurean philosopher who was allied with the Guelphs. Guido Cavalcanti was well known by his poetry, and it's recognized as the first major poet of Italian literature. Also he had a bigfriendship with Dante, who, curiously, called Cavalcanti as "Mentor".

After the Guelhps had defeated the Ghibellines in 1289, the faction was split into two: The White Guelphs and the Black Guelphs. The White wing were still supporting the temporal power of the Pope, while the Black wing opposed it. After the fall of this political struggle, the leaders of both factions were exiled, including Guido and Dante. A short time later, Guido died traveling back to Florence, probally by Malaria.

After a new split of a new White wing and the Black, the Cavalcanti family joined the first one. One of the members, Masino Cavalcanti, was tortured and killed by the Black wing. Finally, in 1304, Carlos de Valois, ordered by the Pope, promotes a massacre in the florentine White wing. Their home, castles, market and proprietis were burn down, and in one of these castles, Francisco Cavalcanti dies, another character described by Dante. The Cavalcanti family would return to Florence in 1307, swearing to not use their insignias in the time of San Giovanni festivity.

The Medici times

Even the surname of the family was marked by the political massacres, the Cavalcanti family still had many important alliances. In 1416, Lorenzo de' Medici, the Elder, grande-uncle of Lorenzo de' Medici, married Ginevra Cavalcanti, allying the two families. During this time, the Medici family attracted too many rivals, begining several conspiracies. In 1440, Giovanni Cavalcanti made strong critics to the politics of Cosmo de' Medici. In 1478, Giuliano de' Medici was assassinated by the Templar Pazzi Conspiracy and Lorenzo de' Medici scaped with the help of florentine Assassin Ezio Auditore. However, Lorenzo and Andréa Cavalcanti, squires of Lorenzo, also helped him and were, probally, relatives to him. Giovanni di Nicolo Cavalcanti and Mainardo di Bartolomeu Cavalcanti also participated in the council of the biggest republican comune, wich followed the end of Savonarola's crisis with Pope Alexander IV. The following years would succeed in the return of the Medici republic, Emperor Charles V's pillage of Roma, and a major role in the defense of the Medici by Mainardo Cavalcanti and his son, Bartolomeo di Mainardo Cavalcanti.

After impose a self exile, Bartolomeo would have his children taken hostage by Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and considered a traior. In 1559, however, he would be part of the Pucci Conspiracy. This would be the final decline of the Cavalcanti in Florence.

Heritage in Brazil

During the first years of the XVI century, when the Cavalcanti were facing their final fall, some of the memebers were connected to important spreads of the family into Europe and even America. Filippo Cavalcanti was a noble knight memeber of the Knights Hospitaliers who corred the Atlantic, in the decade of 1560, to Brazil for unknown reasons. He was son of Giovanni di Lorenzo Cavalcanti, a great merchant and banker, who also had a partnership with Henry VIII and contacts with Michelangelo.

The reasons for Filippo's journey remain unknown. It is speculated that he was only interested in sugar market that was growing in Pernambuco, the most prosperous brazilian city of that time. But as member of Knights of Malta, a covered version of Knights Hospitalier, institution wich had many Templars associated, it's possible that Filippo was one of them and went to Brazil to find a Piece of Eden. Also, some say that Filippo was involved in Pucci Conspiracy with Bartolomeo, but it is widely contradicted once Cosimo I, the target of the treachery, concieved the certificate of nobility to Cavalcanti travel do the New World. Member of the conspiracy or not, it's now known that the surname Cavalcanti was not well accepted in Florence anymore.

In Pernambuco, Cavalcanti married Catarina de Albuquerque, daughter of the portuguese noble Jerônimo de Albuquerque who was brother in law of Duarte Coelho, donee of Pernambuco, and the native Tabira. They had 11 children and were the eve of the biggest family in Brazil, that was spred in all country.

Templar and Assassin connections

The story of the Cavalcanti family offered to Florence a big set of personalities but many questions about their allegiance to Assassin's creed or the Templar cause. Their coat of arms presented a shield full of crosses, the symbol of Templars, but no explicit information confirms. Also, during the 12th and 13th century, the Cavalcanti family publicly supported the Guelphs and then the White Guelphs, the same alleigiance of assassin Dante Alighieri who was best friended with Guido Cavalcanti, called by the author of "Divine Comedy" as Mentor. Though this title, it is popular that it was only the influence of Cavalcanti's poetry over Alighieri, but a curiously adjective coming from an assassin.

In the 15th century, this family became widely known for giving protection and being a strong ally to the House of Medici, who was target of several conspiracies and worked with the assassins. This alliance was only broken when Bartolomeo Cavalcanti was betrayed by Cosimo I and participated in the Pucci conspiracy, though it's unknown the alleigiance of both.

At the same time, Filippo Cavalcanti travelled for unknown reasons. And most interesting of all is that he was a member of the Order of Malta, a great possibility of him being a Templar. By the way, in the contrary of Bartolomeo, Filippo was granted by Cosimo I with the certification of nobility, setting the possibility that Cosimo I and Filippo were Templars, and Bartolomeo was an assassin.

Pearl Jam's Poetry

After many moments of reflexion about his actions, no philosophy was better than the lyrics of the American band, Pearl Jam. This individual discovered several similarities between his behavior in a small time with everything the band could contribute to the world of music during twenty years. From the wild beginning of the band in 1990 to their last record, Backspacer, all those years could fit into him.

§ From Ten to Vs.: The first two records of the band talked about violence on the streets, inside the school, teen anxiety, suicide, abortion, deep dark and unrequited love, nostalgia, homeless people and death. This context fit in the user's view of wild world, and also entertains him with Eddie Vedder climbing on dangerous stages. Inside the release of the song "Jeremy", an unreleased song that should be in Ten is there: "Yellow Ledbetter". A clearly influenced by Jimmy Hendrix song, this one is a curious music that has no constant lyrics. On the record, it is speculated that Vedder sings about a friend who recieved a yellow letter informing of the death of a relative, possibly his brother, in the Gulf War. Only the chorus of the song is always sung in the same lyrics, talking about people who do not react while sighted by the musical self.

§ "Yellow Ledbetter" also has many live versions where Vedder sings about the desire to not feel in a certain way again, a letter, and do not wanting to stay alone.

§ Vitalogy era: Maybe the most influent idea on the user's view. During 1994, Pearl Jam self imposed an exile in the justification of harassment of merchandise, fame and musical market. Eddie Vedder's participatipn inside the band grew, since in the last three years all the other members had a divided role on lyrics. He emerged not only as an incredible singer and writer, but critic and faithful to his own belief. The first record of this era, Vitalogy, is named after the book of the same name by E. H Ruddock, and it's music talked about exile, fame, vinyln passion, abusive marriage, psicology, religion and life. The user also had almost a year of exile, being able to be outside of relations and capable to see its vices.

§ No Code & Yield: The underrated double. The first record followed Vitalogy's break with social media and insane needs, No Code presented a simple record, who sang about exile, naivety, mankind, rage and one music is special to describe Eddie Vedder's personality. Yield comes as a more intense musical work than the previous one, singing about exile, evolution, modern and past needs, changes in the world, simplicity and a special song based on Charles Bukowski wich described a home exile. Both records inspired on the user some simple principles that sometimes are forgotten and only found in a break.

§ Binaural and Riot Act: These records were a true change in bands life. In the year 2000, happened a Roskilde Festival incident, in Denamark, where 9 people died in the crowd due it's fullness. The band thought about quiting the musical career after dealing with the death of nine friend they would never know, and started thinking everything again. This was during the time of Binaural tour, a record that changed all the deep thoughts to an explicit political vision, war, love, and return. In 2002, Pearl Jam released Riot Act, the recorded that showed how the band was aging in a beautiful way, Eddie's voice reached an incredible peak combined with technique and the other band members (Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McReady and Matt Cameron) had more space to contribute. This recorded talked openly about war, love salvation, nostalgia, a critic to the then President George W. Bush, greed and life. During this record, the music I Am Mine inspires not only the user, but maybe whole Pearl Jam community, where Vedder sings how we are owners of our acts.

§ Pearl Jam (2006) and Backspacer: After four years without a record, Pearl jam released a self entitled album, with Vedder's voice in a different but also incredible way. This one talked about not going back into the past, but without closing the lessons of it, feeling, love, critic to religion, fear of life, alcohol and drug criticism. Three years later, Pearl Jam would release Backspacer, an album that was trully looking back in the past and trying to fix what grew with pendencies. This album has a clear New Wave influence, and in opposition to Vs. & Vitalogy, sings about apologize, dreams of others, freedom, friendship, forgotten love and specially, death and aging. This sequence showed the user how people deal with the end of all things and how sometimes we can put a feet out of exile, even from the ruinous world, and fight to get it back again.

Though seems some kind of demagogy, Pearl Jam's poetry really fits in many events inside the users life, giving guidance in the pleasure of listening to rock music. Social critics, religious views, love, exile (specially), behavior and self expression were caught by the user in a particular way.