Philip of Spain, King of England

The Spanish Armada conjures up images of age-old rivalries, bravery and treachery. However the same Spanish monarch who sent the Armada to invade England in 1588 was, just a few years previously, the King of England and husband of Mary Tudor. This important new book sheds new light on Philip II of Spain, England's forgotten sovereign. Previous accounts of Mary's brief reign have focused on the martyrdom of Protestant dissenters, the loss of English territory, as well as Mary's infamous personality, meaning that her husband Philip has remained in the shadows. In this book, Harry Kelsey uncovers Philip's life - from his childhood and education in Spain, to his marriage to Mary and the political manoeuvrings involved in the marriage contract, to the tumultuous aftermath of Mary's death which ultimately led to hostile relations between Queen Elizabeth and Philip, culminating in the Armada. Focusing especially on the period of Philip's marriage to Mary, Kelsey shows that Philip was, in fact, an active King of England and took a keen interest in the rule of his wife's kingdom. Casting fresh light on both Mary and Philip, as well as European history more generally, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the Tudor era.

Harry Kelsey

Preface                                                                                               Introduction                                                                                                     Chapter 1: A Spanish Prince and an English Princess                              Chapter 2: Training a Prince to Rule an Empire                               Chapter 3: Training a Princess to be a Wife                                                                                      Chapter 4: The Grand Tour                                                               Chapter 5: Mary the Queen                                                              Chapter 6: The Reluctant Bridegroom                                                      Chapter 7: The Marriage of England and Spain                                     Chapter 8: Philip of Spain, King of England                                  Chapter 9: Expecting an Heir                                                          Chapter 10: Leaving a Kingdom, Gaining an Empire                     Chapter 11: War and Death                                                             Chapter 12: King of Spain                                                                                                        Bibliography