Protagonists of War

Raymond Fagel is lecturer in early modern history at the Institute of History, Leiden University.

To a large extent, the malleability, contradictions, and diverse interpretations of these figures are rightly presented by Fagel as inherent to the process of narrative appropriation and re-creation. Indeed, showing the numerous ways that the presentation of the actions, motives, and reputation of these figures have been shaped through the hands of chroniclers, historians, and playwrights is key to these accounts. Yet stressing this aspect of the study would understate the extent that Fagel has also deployed a wealth of administrative and personal correspondence to set the anecdotes, interpretations, and assumptions against a more substantive, verifiable account of the lives and actions of these men. In consequence, while the book tells us much about their shifting historical reputations from the sixteenth century to the present day, it also offers detailed evidence about the dynamics of military service for these officers in the Army of Flanders. Parrott, D., Early Modern Low Countries, 6(2), 299–301. https://doi.org/10.51750/emlc13432

• Abbreviations Introduction Words of gratitude Chapter I: Captain Julián: the hero of the battlefield Chapter II: Sancho Dávila: the champion of Catholic Spain Chapter III: Cristóbal de Mondragón: the good Spaniard Chapter IV: Francisco de Valdés: the exemplary soldier General conclusion: episodic war narratives in comparison Bibliography Index