On the night of 7th March 1623, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Buckingham knocked on the door of the British embassy in Madrid. Their unsolicited arrival began one of the most bizarre episodes in British history, as the Protestant heir to the Stuart throne struggled to win the Spanish Infanta as his bride. secure a marriage between the leading Protestant and Catholic royal families and heal Europe's century-old division into warring Christian camps. The effort was a diplomatic disaster. It split political and religious opinion in Britain, alienated much of Italy and Germany, confused the Spaniards (who thought that the English crown was about to convert), and failed to secure a marriage or to resolve the Thirty Years' War. explanation of this pivotal moment and tells a fascinating story of early modern politicking, cultural misunderstanding and religious confusion.

A fictional portrait of Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine of Aragon, follows her through her youthful marriage to Henry's older brother, Arthur, her widowhood, her marriage to Henry, and the divorce that led to Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn.

The birthday of the infanta -- The selfish giant -- The nightingale and the rose -- The young king -- The happy prince.

In 1623, the young heir to the English and Scottish thrones Prince Charles slipped out of England and headed off to Madrid hoping to marry the King of Spain's daughter. That his journey to Madrid was to eventually end in failure and public humiliation, has often been cited as a major influence on the development of the young prince and many of his subsequent policies as king. In this volume leading scholars from a variety of disciplines analyze the reactions and results of Charles romantic escapade and offer their insights in to the affair. In so doing many traditional assumptions about the trip are overturned, and the inadequacy of assessing it from a single discipline is revealed.

The first complete edition of Elizabeth Stuart's letters ever published. Volume I covers the years between 1603 and 1631: Elizabeth's life as princess and consort, charting her transformation from political ingenue to independent stateswoman.

Two young princesses navigate the court intrigues of 18th-century France and Spain in this stunning historical fiction novel based on a true story. “Vivid, engrossing . . . one of the most fascinating historical narratives I’ve ever read.” —Diana Gabaldon, author of Outlander Philippe d’Orléans, the regent of France, has a gangrenous heart—the result of a life of debauchery, alcohol, power, and flattery. One morning in 1721, he decides to marry eleven-year-old Louis XV to the daughter of Philippe V of Spain, who is only four. Orléans hopes this will tie his kingdom to Spain. But were Louis to die without begetting an heir—the likeliness of which is greatly increased by having a child bride—Orléans himself would finally be king. Orléans tosses his own daughter into the bargain, the twelve-year-old Mlle de Montpensier, who will marry the Prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne. The Spanish court enthusiastically agrees and arrangements are made. The two nations trade their princesses in a grand ceremony in 1722, making bonds that should end the historical conflict. Nothing turns out as expected.