Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Preface v
3. Contents vii
4. Introduction 1
5. Part I. The Background 13
6. Part II. The Controversy over the Valtelline Episode, 1624-1627 103
7. Part III. Internal Affairs, State-Building, and Attendant Controversies, 1624-1632 173
8. Part IV. The Climax, 1630-1642 283
9. Part V. Design for Immortality 461
10. Conclusion 505
11. Bibliography 515
12. Index 549