During the Renaissance, the monarchy rose to become the dominant form of power in Europe. This dynamic epoch produced formidable sovereigns who crushed the feudal rights of nobles, defended the Catholic Church against the encroachments of the Protestant Reformation, fought self-aggrandizing wars, and were patrons of art, architecture, literature, and music. The period witnessed celebrated monarchs like Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, Francis I, and Charles V, as well as others who had a significant impact on European history, including Richard III, Isabella, and James IV. This biographical narrative chronicles the lives and reigns of the 42 sovereigns in England, Scotland, France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire between 1400 and 1600. Presented here in the context of their era are the personalities, the accomplishments, and the failures of these monarchs.

As the British Isles slowly emerged from the Dark Ages, there was a procession of British kings whose rule was the driving force behind the emergence of a new national identity. During the Gothic centuries, England was ruled by three separate dynasties who, through the force of their personalities, asserted their feudal rights throughout the kingdom and secured their unchallenged dominance. Scotland was ruled by two dynasties, who defended the kingdom's borders against attacks by Norway and England and relentlessly pursued the unification of their realm by military might and diplomacy. The period is rich in readily recognizable names such as William the Conquerer, Richard the Lion Heart, and Robert Bruce. However, it also contains many lesser known leaders unjustly neglected by history, including Edward I and David I.This biographical history tells the story of 30 Gothic monarchs who fought in the crusades, enforced their feudal rights throughout the kingdom, sponsored the growth of representative government throughout the parliament, and ultimately created a military power that would dominate European affairs. In the process, the narrative recaptures the dramatic and chaotic span of the years between 1000 and 1400, when the great European monarchies were still in their formative stages. The book discusses the lives of 17 English and 13 Scottish kings in the context of their eras, discussing their achievements and failures, their relations with the Church and foreign powers, and their overall influence on the suppression of the nobility and the development of the monarchy as England's primary governing institution.