
Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K'ang-hsi
Jonathan D. Spence
Spence's masterpiece, Kangxi in his own words, assembled from palace memorials.

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

Louis XIV of France
France
1661–1715

Aurangzeb
Mughal Empire
1661–1707

Charles II of Spain
Spain
1665–1700

Mehmed IV
Ottoman Empire
1661–1687

Charles II of England
England
1661–1685

Farrukhsiyar
Mughal Empire
1713–1719

Frederick I of Prussia
Prussia
1701–1713

Bahadur Shah I
Mughal Empire
1707–1712

Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1661–1705

Frederick William I of Prussia
Prussia
1713–1722

Charles XI of Sweden
Sweden
1661–1697

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Japan (Shogunate)
1680–1709

Ahmed III
Ottoman Empire
1703–1722

Charles II of England
Scotland
1661–1685

Emperor Reigen
Japan
1663–1687

Emperor Higashiyama
Japan
1687–1709

Afonso VI of Portugal
Portugal
1661–1683

Peter II of Portugal
Portugal
1683–1706

William III of England
England
1689–1702

Pope Clement XI
Papacy
1700–1721

Tokugawa Ietsuna
Japan (Shogunate)
1661–1680

Louis XV of France
France
1715–1722

Charles XII of Sweden
Sweden
1697–1718

George I of Great Britain
Great Britain
1714–1722

John V of Portugal
Portugal
1706–1722

Mustafa II
Ottoman Empire
1695–1703

Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1711–1722

Anne, Queen of Great Britain
Great Britain
1707–1714

Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Spain
1706–1714

Philip V of Spain
Spain
1714–1722

Emperor Nakamikado
Japan
1709–1722

Mary II of England
England
1689–1694

Anne, Queen of Great Britain
England
1702–1707

Pope Innocent XI
Papacy
1676–1689

James II of England
England
1685–1688
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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Well-regarded biographies and histories to go deeper on Kangxi Emperor's life and times.

Jonathan D. Spence
Spence's masterpiece, Kangxi in his own words, assembled from palace memorials.

Jonathan D. Spence
Spence's survey devotes exceptional attention to the Kangxi–Qianlong high Qing.

Evelyn S. Rawski
Institutional depth on how Qing emperors governed, essential context for Kangxi's sixty-one-year reign.
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