In 1529 Mercurino Arborio di Gattinara, Grand Chancellor of the Holy Roman Empire under Charles V, could with reason consider himself the most powerful man in Europe. He directed policy for the largest collection of lands under any single monarch since Charlemagne. Under his guidance, imperial armies subdued their enemies, the emperor concluded peace with the pope, and treasure fleets laden with silver made their way from the New World to Spain. All events had miraculously fallen into line exactly as he had predicted. As he completed his autobiography in this year, the imperial fleet set sail for Italy, the stepping stone to world domination and universal peace.

The five chapters in this book serve as a critical introduction to the autobiography of an exceptional Renaissance statesman. A self-proclaimed prophet of empire, Gattinara felt that the hand of destiny had guided his course. At the same time, he wanted to take personal credit for an exemplary political career built upon boldness, brilliance and guile. He aimed for universal monarchy, a Spanish empire encompassing the whole world. His plan, a blueprint for global empire, is the subject of this book. Gattinara's extraordinary command of what today might be called ‘soft power’, the use of attraction and co-option to supplement coercion or force, made his vision of empire compelling. He promulgated revolutionary and utopian promises of peace, justice and reform and aligned himself and his emperor with the movement of spiritual regeneration erupting throughout the continent.