He is called Alexander Farnese (English, Dutch, and German), Alessandro Farnese (Italian), Alejandro Farneseo or Farnesio (Spanish), Alexandre Farnèse (French), and Alexandrum Farnesium (Latin), Governor of the Netherlands (1578-1592), Prince, then 3rd Duke (1586), of Parma. Referred by some as the “forgotten Farnese”, if you are reading this, you have likely heard of him and are seeking to learn more. Adventurer and warrior extraordinaire who conspicuously distinguished himself with valor at the Battle of Lepanto and the Battle of Gembloux. Brilliant strategist who saved the Catholic army from being wiped out in France. Underappreciated diplomat, considered the founding father, or, at the very least, having laid the initial cornerstone for the foundation of what is today called the Kingdom of Belgium, through negotiations with the Wallonian provinces. Military genius who, as part of the siege of Antwerp from 1584-1585, orchestrated the blockade of the Scheldt river, touted by historians to be a remarkable feat of engineering. To date, there are six published biographies about this notable historical figure; two in French, two in Italian, and two in Spanish. Furthermore, none of these biographies have been translated into any other languages. For decades, historians, be they respected scholars or casual enthusiasts, have been clamoring for a biography written in English. The appeals from Anglophone has been answered at last. Done in the style of Léon van der Essen’s Alexandre Farnèse , this magnum opus consists of more than 1,550 pages in five volumes detailing Farnese’s life. Out of economic consideration, the 14 illustration plates contained within are in black & white, however, a sixth volume, the addendum, features all illustration plates and more from all five volumes in full-color. This volume continues where volume II leaves off with the siege if Tournai, return of the Spanish troops, Farnese’s struggles with the Duke of Anjou, his offensive in Brabant, on up to the assassination of William of Orange and the preparations for the siege of Antwerp. Vol. I, ASIN: B08JDTN3G1 Vol. II, ASIN: B08JF5KMQK Vol. III, ASIN: B08JV9VMXZ Vol. IV, ASIN: B08JLHQN44 Vol. V, ASIN: B08JMGH7NV Addendum, ASIN: B09KN652RK In volumes II and III, Professor Van der Essen covers only six years in the life of Alexander Farnese. And so important were the two years before the assassination of William the Silent that the author decided to devote the entire third volume to them, while the remaining eight years will be treated in the fourth volume. Farnese is depicted here as an extremely successful diplomat and military tactician. The situation confronting him in the year 1578 was peculiar and delicate. The provinces in the extreme south of the Netherlands were won over by him on condition that no foreign troops should be used in the Low Countries. The natives were Walloons and not especially friendly to the Flemings. Farnese treated them with the utmost courtesy and tact, with the result that gradually they ceased to insist on keeping out the dreaded Spanish troops. Another difficulty which he was able to surmount has been analyzed with exemplary precision and in great detail. Philip II had determined to deprive Farnese of his political prerogatives. He was to share the reins of government with his mother, Margaret of Parma, who concurred in the wishes of the Spanish monarch. However, both she and the obstinate king were forced to yield to the astute prince. Whether or not the finesse of young Farnese affected Philip II to the latter's advantage, it is important to note that this supposedly shortsighted king of Spain now evinced a very clear understanding of the whole situation in the Netherlands. His change of mind saved the royal cause of Spain in the southern provinces. The material presented here by the author throws welcome light on an episode that has hitherto been obscure and ill understood. The following two years (1582-1584) were filled with dramatic events, culminating in the assassination of Farnese's principal adversary. Assisted by fresh forces from Spain and Italy, and taking full advantage of the despair left in the ranks of his opponents by the despicable intrigues of the duke of Anjou in the southern provinces, Farnese proceeded to conquer the great cities of Flanders; first Ypres, Bruges, and Ghent, and finally Antwerp. Just as he reached the walls of the great commercial metropolis, he received tidings of the death of William of Orange. His joy was immense, and although some of his sentiments expressed on this occasion do not meet with approval from the pen of the author, we can fully appreciate Farnese's position. It is not too much to say that in these two splendid volumes by Van der Essen we see the fruit of admirable research based upon the labors of Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French, and German scholars. Much of the older secondary material has now become obsolete, and we may study the king of Spain