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The Duke of Alba Henry Kamen |
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Ferdinand Alvarez de Toledo, the
third duke of Alba (1507-82), is known in history as 'the butcher of In this intriguing re-evaluation,
Henry Kamen narrates the duke's personal history, looking beyond the
conventional image to reveal motives and to explain rather than simply to
condemn. Kamen examines the early years of Alba's life, his travels over the
whole of Europe, and the complex military and political career that made him
Spain's leading general of the imperial age. Drawing on the duke's rich and
expressive surviving correspondence, Kamen explores
Alba's beliefs and considers his infamous actions within the context of his
time and of the monarchs - Emperor Charles V and King Philip II of Henry Kamen is the author of numerous books,
including: The Phoenix and the Flame: Catalonia and the
Counter-Reformation (1993), Philip of Spain (1997), and Philip
V of Spain: The King Who Reigned Twice (2001) which are
published by Yale University Press. |
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