Philip II: The King, the Man, the Marriages

Yet Philip's life encompasses most of the major struggles and issues of the sixteenth century, as he battled to control the vast Empires acquired by his father, alongside his crippling debts. A complex and private man, Philip dealt with personal tragedy whilst fighting fires across Europe and presiding over a golden era of art, literature and architecture.

As the 500th anniversary of Philip's birth approaches, Amy Licence places him in his cultural context to confront the black legend; she explores anew his relationship with England – and invites us to take a fresh look at the man, the myths and the marriages of England's forgotten (Tudor-era) king.