The Four Monarchs: Charles V, Francis I, Henry VIII, and Suleiman I

This book is a widely recognized authoritative work among European scholars. It recounts the complex and tumultuous history of the first half of sixteenth-century Europe, following the rivalry between the Habsburg and Valois dynasties as they contested Italy and vied for supremacy in Europe. Its focus is the bloody wars and intricate diplomatic maneuvering among Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor; Francis I, King of France; Henry VIII, King of England; and Suleiman I, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Woven into the narrative are a series of far-reaching historical events, including the Reformation and the discovery of the New World. The book offers profound insight into the intricate and shifting relationships between state power and international power, and between royal and ecclesiastical authority. It is well worth reading.