An extensive archive of documents, unread since the sixteenth century, revolutionizes the image of Philip II, the most famous king of Spain. “An extraordinarily well-informed narrative of the long career of Philip II as the most powerful king of Europe.”—Henry Kamen, Little Reviews “This authentic, cleverly revised biography must now stand as the main reference.”—Iain Finlayson, The Times

Philip II (1527-1598) is not only the most famous king in Spanish history but also one of the most famous monarchs in English history: the man who married Mary Tudor and later launched the Spanish Armada against her sister, Elizabeth I. This fascinating biography of the most powerful European monarch of his era begins with his conception (1526) and ends with his accession to Heaven (1603), two events that are astonishingly well-documented by his contemporaries. The eminent historian Geoffrey Parker draws on four decades of research on Philip, as well as a recent, remarkable archive discovery—a vault of 3,000 documents from the treasures of the Hispanic Society of America in New York, which had remained unread since the time they outlasted Philip himself more than four centuries ago. Many of these significantly alter what we know about the king.

The book examines Philip's long apprenticeship, his three main interests (work, play, and religion), and the main political, military, and personal challenges he faced during his long reign. Parker offers fresh approaches to the causes of Philip's leadership failures: was his empire simply too large to manage, or could a king with different talents and temperament have fared better?

Pages: 456, Year of Publication: 1124, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm