The History of the Popes (Vol. XVIII) : From the Close of the Middle Ages explores papal politics, diplomacy, and religious conflict during the early modern era. This volume focuses on the late 16th century, covering significant events ranging from the Crusades against the Turks and French royal marriage plans to the resurgence of the Catholic movement. Specifically, Volume XVIII highlights the pontificates of Pope Pius V and his successors, including the Holy See's efforts to forge alliances against the Ottoman Empire; the intricacies of French royal marriage negotiations, such as the proposed union of Princess Margaret and Henry of Navarre and the impact of the persecution of Huguenots in fueling the Catholic revival in France; as well as the papacy's early struggles to address abuses of authority within the French church and its relationship with the local government. This comprehensive work spans a total of 40 volumes chronicling the history of 56 popes.