Recommended read
A Palace for a King
Henry Kamen
Philip IV, Velázquez, and the Buen Retiro, the culture of Spain's great crisis century.
The World During Their Reign
The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.
Shah Jahan
Mughal Empire
1628–1658
Charles I of England
England
1625–1649
Louis XIV of France
France
1643–1715
Mehmed IV
Ottoman Empire
1648–1687
Aurangzeb
Mughal Empire
1658–1707
Jahangir I
Mughal Empire
1605–1627
Charles II of England
England
1660–1685
James VI and I
England
1603–1625
Kangxi Emperor
China
1661–1722
Louis XIII of France
France
1610–1617; 1617–1643
Tokugawa Iemitsu
Japan (Shogunate)
1623–1651
Charles I of England
Scotland
1625–1649
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1637–1657
Oliver Cromwell
England
1653–1658
Murad IV
Ottoman Empire
1623–1640
Shunzhi Emperor
China
1644–1661
Pope Urban VIII
Papacy
1623–1644
Philip IV of Spain
Portugal
1621–1640
Christina, Queen of Sweden
Sweden
1632–1654
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1619–1637
John IV of Portugal
Portugal
1640–1656
Chongzhen Emperor
China
1627–1644
Empress Meishō
Japan
1629–1643
Tokugawa Ietsuna
Japan (Shogunate)
1651–1680
Yongli Emperor
China
1646–1662
Ibrahim I
Ottoman Empire
1640–1648
Hong Taiji
China
1636–1643
Tianqi Emperor
China
1620–1627
Emperor Go-Kōmyō
Japan
1643–1654
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Empire
1658–1705
Pope Innocent X
Papacy
1644–1655
Pope Alexander VII
Papacy
1655–1667
Emperor Go-Mizunoo
Japan
1611–1629
Afonso VI of Portugal
Portugal
1656–1683
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Sweden
1611–1632
Meanwhile in history
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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From the library
Go deeper on Philip IV of Spain
Hand-picked histories and biographies for readers who want more than the timeline: the same era, told in full.
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