Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.' But the great value of the book is putting Suleiman the Magnificent on an equal plain with Henry VIII, Francis I, and Charles V, and thereby, providing an expanded view of Europe during this turbulent era, a better understanding of the clashes between their empires, and the personal aspirations and foibles of these giants that shaped the continent’s history.” -James Reston, Jr.'Never before had the world seen four such giants coexisting. “As we have come to expect from John Julius Norwich, Four Princes is filled with surprising details about these familiar figures, as well as revealing insights into the seminal events of this rich period. “A fascinating quadruple biography of four of the greatest monarchs of the Renaissance by this true master of narrative history.” -Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of The Romanovs and Jerusalem: The Biography Through Norwich’s perceptive eyes, we see that the four monarchs certainly did not exist in a vacuum, that each one was not a completely separate entity.

“In prolific historian Norwich’s well-articulated appraisal, these four giant figures can, and should be, perceived as a ‘single phenomenon’ that deeply imprinted sixteenth-century Europe. With remarkable erudition, John Julius Norwich delves into this entertaining and layered history, indelibly depicting four dynamic characters and how their incredible achievements–and obsessions with one another-changed European history.

Suleiman the Magnificent-who stood apart as a Muslim-brought the Ottoman Empire to its apogee of political, military, and economic power.Īgainst the vibrant background of the Renaissance, these four men collectively shaped the culture, religion, and politics of their respective domains. Charles V was the most powerful industrious man of the time, and was unanimously elected Holy Roman Emperor. 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. Here, he has crafted a bold tapestry of Europe and the Middle East in the early sixteenth century, when four legendary rulers towered over the era.įrancis I of France was the personification of the Renaissance, and a highly influential patron of the arts and education. John Julius Norwich-”the very model of a popular historian” ( Wall Street Journal)-is acclaimed for his distinctive ability to weave together a fascinating narrative through vivid detail, colorful anecdotes, and captivating characters.

Four princes by john julius norwich