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 is an historian of Tudor England. He is the author of Sir Francis Drake: The Queen's Pirate and Sir John Hawkins: Queen Elizabeth's Slave Trader.

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