Imprudent King: A New Life Of Philip II

Product Description

A vast archive of documents unread since the sixteenth century revises the portrait of Spain's best-known king Philip II is not only the most famous king in Spanish history but one of the most famous monarchs in English history the man who married Mary Tudor & later launched the Spanish Armada against her sister Elizabeth I This compelling biography of the most powerful European monarch of his day begins with his conception (1526) & ends with his ascent to Paradise (1603) two occurrences surprisingly well documented by contemporaries Eminent historian Geoffrey Parker draws on four decades of research on Philip as well as a recent extraordinary archival discovery-a trove of 3000 documents in the vaults of the Hispanic Society of America in New York City unread since crossing Philip's own desk more than four centuries ago Many of them change significantly what we know about the king The book examines Philip's long apprenticeship; his three principal interests (work play & religion); & the major political military & personal challenges he faced during his long reign Parker offers fresh insights into the causes of Philip's leadership failures was his empire simply too big to manage or would a monarch with different talents & temperament have fared better?