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.<br/>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.