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Charlemagne : the great adventure / by Wilson, Derek A.;
Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-211) and index.
Subjects: Charlemagne, Emperor, 742-814;
© 2005., Hutchinson :
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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All the queen's spies / by Clements, Oliver,1972-author.;
"The "lively" (The New York Times) Agents of the Crown series continues with this thriller about Queen Elizabeth I's advisor John Dee in a race to save the Empire with the help of a mysterious manuscript that offers global power. With rumors of the end times swirling, philosopher and astronomer John Dee travels to Prague in an effort to prevent one of Catherine de Medici's seductive ladies-in-waiting from luring the Holy Roman Emperor into a crusade against England. To convince the famously occult-loving Emperor to join his side, Dee entices him with the esoteric Book of Secrets, a volume that, if decoded, could provide the chance to control the levers of heaven and earth. But Dee faces enemies at every turn, including a female codebreaker who could be the undoing of Dee and the British Empire"--
Subjects: Thrillers (Fiction); Historical fiction.; Spy fiction.; Novels.; Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603; Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, 1552-1612; Dee, John, 1527-1608;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Four princes : Henry VIII, Francis I, Charles V, Suleiman the Magnificent and the obsessions that forged modern Europe / by Norwich, John Julius,1929-author.;
Includes bibliographical references and index."John Julius Norwich--who the Wall Street Journal called "the very model of a popular historian"--has crafted a big, bold tapestry of the early sixteenth century, when Europe and the Middle East were overshadowed by a quartet of legendary rulers, all born within a ten-year period: Francis I of France, the personification of the Renaissance, who became a highly influential patron of the arts and education. Henry VIII, who was not expected to inherit the throne but embraced the role with gusto, broke with the Roman Catholic Church and appointed himself head of the Church of England. Charles V, the most powerful and industrious man at the time, was unanimously elected Holy Roman Emperor. Suleiman the Magnificent stood apart as a Muslim, and brought the Ottoman Empire to its apogee of political, military, and economic power. Against the vibrant background of the Renaissance, these four men laid the foundations for modern Europe and the Middle East. Their relations shifted dramatically, from hostile and competitive to friendly and supportive, while they collectively impacted the culture, religion, and politics of their respective domains. With remarkable expertise and flair, John Julius Norwich delves into this fascinating slice of world history, bringing the past to vivid life. His engaging, distinctive blend of erudition and brio indelibly portrays four dynamic characters, their incredible achievements, and the colorful surroundings in which they lived, while deftly examining the influence that each one had on the reigns of the others."--Provided by publisher.
Subjects: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1500-1558.; Francis I, King of France, 1494-1547.; Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547.; Süleyman I, Sultan of the Turks, 1494 or 1495-1566.; History, Modern;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Antoinette's sister / by Giovinazzo, Diana,author.;
"Austria 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte--ninth daughter and sixteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria--knows her position as a Hapsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her beloved country. But not yet. The Hapsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte's older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples, and will soon take her place as queen. Before Josepha can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes: after visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: she must now marry Ferdinand in her sister's stead. Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her new life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband's regent, Tenucci, is a controlling and power-hungry man who has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help--which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte's senior who is tasked to take over the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength to do what her mother did before her: take control of a country. In a time of political uprisings, royal executions, and the increasingly desperate crisis her favorite sister, Queen Marie Antoinette, is facing in France, how is a young monarch to keep hold of everything--and everyone--she loves? Find out in this sweeping, luxurious tale of family, court intrigue, and power"--
Subjects: Biographical fiction.; Historical fiction.; Maria Carolina, Queen, consort of Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies, 1752-1814;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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King / by Kane, Ben,author.;
Autumn 1192. With Jerusalem still in the Saracens' hands, and a peace treaty agreed with their leader Saladin, Richard the Lionheart is free at last to travel back to his strife-ridden kingdom. By his side at every turn is the loyal knight Ferdia, also known as Rufus. Together they will face not just Richard's archenemy Philippe Capet of France, but also the king's treacherous younger brother, John. Shipwrecked on the Italian coast, the king and his small group of companions are forced into a perilous journey through lands controlled by their enemies. Shortly before Christmas 1192, Richard is taken prisoner near Vienna by Duke Leopold of Austria. Kept prisoner for several months, the king is then handed over to Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor. His captivity lasts for another year, fanning the flames of unrest in his territories in England and beyond. Talks between Richard's mother Queen Alienor and Henry VI last for months, but finally reach a bitter agreement. The extortionate sum demanded to free the king will empty the treasury and bleed England dry. Philippe Capet and Richard's brother John collude, offering vast sums to see the king kept captive for longer. Their efforts are in vain, leading Philippe to pen a letter to John including the famous line: 'Look to yourself, the devil is loose.' Crowned for a second time to wash away the shame of his captivity, Richard restores order in England, forgiving John his shameful behaviour. His next task is to recover territories lost to Philippe Capet, and to re-establish his dominance over the French king. Forging clever alliances, building strategic castles and when obliged, waging war, the Lionheart carves a unique path into history.
Subjects: Biographical fiction.; Historical fiction.; Novels.; John, King of England, 1167-1216; Richard I, King of England, 1157-1199; Crusades; Gentry; Hostages; Knights and knighthood;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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