Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II by Geoffrey Parker

The newly released historical biography, “Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II” by Geoffrey Parker, is an insightful and detailed account of the life of the complex King Philip II of Spain. Philip II is one of the most fascinating figures of European history. On the one hand, he was a remarkable political leader who unified large portions of the continent under a large bureaucratic state. On the other hand, Philip II was not without his flaws, with his foreign policy choices sparking strong reactions from his rivals.

Parker’s book is the latest in a growing body of work exploring the life of this extraordinary ruler. In his work, the author takes a unique approach to the life of Philip II, presenting the king’s accomplishments and his failures in an even-handed manner. Parker takes an in depth look at Philip’s motivations, successes, and failures during his reign.

The book begins with Philip’s early life, giving readers an intimate look into the boyhood years of the intrepid king. Parker looks at the various mentors of young Philip, such as his uncle and the Jesuits in charge of his education. Philip would draw on these experiences in his own reign, showing himself to be an inquisitive scholar who was unafraid of engaging with different political leaders. Philip was also deeply Catholic, but he was not a fanatic, and Parker takes care to discuss his views on religion in the context of his political decisions.

As Philip grew into adulthood, he assumed an increasingly active role in government. Philip was very active in the court, making decisions about foreign and domestic policy for much of his reign. His efforts to build a unified Spain saw mixed success, with many of his actions sparking contention inside and outside his kingdom.

The bulk of Parker’s book focuses on Philip’s disagreements with the Catholic Church, noted disagreements in the New World, and the attempt to build a unified Iberian monarchy. Philip’s policies created a lot of enemies, but in some ways, they were more successful than those implemented by his predecessors. Philip was especially successful in increasing Spain’s naval capabilities, helping it to become a major maritime power.

In addition to exploring the career of Philip II, Parker’s book also looks at his legacy. Parker does an excellent job of examining how Philip’s legacy is intertwined with Spain’s greatest accomplishments as well as its greatest failures. Parker also takes a look at how subsequent generations of Spanish rulers were influenced by Philip’s reign. He looks at how later rulers built on or rejected Philip’s innovations with their own policies.

Overall, “Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II” is an accessible and engaging biography. Parker takes a fascinating look at the life and times of one of Europe’s most complex rulers. From his youth in court, to his policy decisions in life and fine legacy in death, Philip’s story is an engaging one, and Geoffrey Parker brings it to life through his vivid depictions of Spain’s great ruler.