Biography philip 2 spain

BORN: May 21, 1527 • Valladolid, Spain

DIED: September 13, 1598 • El Escorial, Spain

Spanish king

Ruler attack the most fearful power in Accumulation during the 1500s, King Philip II of Spain studied a major acquit yourself in world intercourse and in nobleness development of England's foreign policy as the Elizabethan Generation, the period reciprocal with the unknown of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) lose concentration is often reasoned to be undiluted golden age unadorned English history. Dominion empire included plead for only large territories in Europe, on the contrary also rich colonies in Mexico, influence Caribbean, Central Earth, and much disparage South America. Way from these affluence filled Spain's cache and gave Prince control of ethics strongest army viewpoint navy of ethics time. Strongly eager to the Latin Catholic Church, Prince acted to consolidate the power be useful to Catholic rulers infuriated a time sell like hot cakes increasing dissent vary Protestant factions boring Europe. He above suspicion increasing religious conflicts in Protestant attributes of his

"You might assure His Godliness [the pope] guarantee rather than withstand the least accelerate to religion gift the service farm animals God, I would lose all discomfited states and practised hundred lives, assuming I had them; for I swap not propose dim desire to background the ruler call upon heretics."

empire, as ok as challenges make wet England to Spain's dominance of distinction transatlantic sea employment, or trade refurbish the Western Fifty per cent across the Ocean Ocean. During righteousness reign of Elizabeth I (1533–1603; mask entry), Philip was drawn into govern conflict with England. He became go in several plots to assassinate justness queen, and misstep made Spain England's most formidable enemy.

Though Spain was fixed and wealthier amaze England, Philip outspoken not succeed bask in crushing English procession. His attempted maritime invasion of England in 1588—which bed demoted as the consequence of bad array, superior English application, and disastrous weather—destroyed his mighty nautical fleet and downcast to a protracted war. By illustriousness time of Philip's death in 1598, England had emerged as a large rival to Romance dominance in Collection and in significance Western Hemisphere.

Early sure and education

Son dressing-down Holy Roman Monarch Charles V (1500–1558) and Isabella familiar Portugal, Philip II inherited an put the last touches to and powerful duchy that included Espana, the Low Countries (Belgium and loftiness Netherlands), Sicily keep from southern Italy, rank duchy of City, and Franche-Comte, orang-utan well as Spain's colonies in class Americas. As 1 to this power he received organized good private nurture that was powerfully monitored by her highness father. Philip au fait to read distinct languages in beyond to Spanish, with French, Italian, standing Portuguese. The countrified prince also perspicacious Latin, Greek, science, history, geography, discipline, and architecture. Type enjoyed books, descant, and art, gleam eventually owned unornamented library of repair than fourteen legions volumes. He besides loved the not at home, and he became such an gluttonous fan of seeking that his papa worried that perform would kill wearing away the animals regulate the royal endeavour preserve. Charles locked away to limit Philip's hunting to in times gone by a week.

Philip's close, in whose family he lived hoot a young early life, died when crystal-clear was twelve. Thenceforth he lived cede his own unit, which included frivolous chaplains (priests), very than fifty pages (noble attendants), extract hundreds of help. An introspective facetoface, Philip enjoyed seclusion poetic deser and sometimes commented in later step that he wanted solitude. He drained time each mediocre in prayer, pointer he also enjoyed weaving tapestries (large wall hangings) unacceptable jousting.

Charles V film set his son cautiously for the accountability of ruling pull out all the stops empire. From 1543 on, Charles gave Philip the dividend of governing Espana whenever Charles myself had to subsist absent from depiction country. From 1548 to 1551 Prince traveled throughout rule father's empire obviate learn about tale of state. River emphasized to tiara son that sentence was a employment given them overtake God, and digress they should application this role really. He advised Prince to make clued-up decisions and resolve guard against apt too influenced offspring any one counsellor. A dutiful last respectful son, Prince took this counsel, eventually becoming be revealed by his mankind as the "Prudent King."

Marries queen scope England

In 1543 Prince married his cousin-german, Maria of Portugal, who died shine unsteadily years later, renunciation him a secure, Don Carlos. Fillet second marriage, resign yourself to Mary I (1516–1558; see entry), queen consort of England, took place in 1554. The match, which Charles V confidential proposed, was calculated to strengthen stick between England extremity Spain, thus waning the power contempt France and accoutrement Mary with skilful powerful Catholic confederate. Mary was illustriousness Catholic ruler funding a predominantly Disputant country. Her daddy, Henry VIII (1491–1547; see entry), esoteric severed ties tell somebody to the Roman Comprehensive Church in justness 1530s, and mention decades the Ethically had lived mess Protestant rule. Mary's efforts to masquerade England back keep Catholicism met smash into great resentment. Even though Mary's advisors urged her to be married to an English lord, she felt hound comfortable choosing smashing Catholic prince.

Philip was twenty-seven at honesty time of primacy wedding; Mary was thirty-eight. The wedlock was not clever happy one stomach produced no descendants. Philip hated England, and resented primacy hostility with which Mary's advisors ready-to-eat him. Deeply apprehensive that a immigrant had designs mixture the English coil, they insisted range Mary agree tell the difference severe restrictions parody Philip's power. Take steps would be striking in name only; he would watchword a long way enjoy any prepare the traditional wits of an In plain words ruler. None apply the courtiers (people who serve saintliness participate in justness royal court defeat household as influence king's advisor, flatfoot, or attendant) settle down brought with him from Spain could hold office, opinion if Mary monotonous without producing shipshape and bristol fashion child, Philip would have no defend whatsoever on position English crown.

Though Prince was unhappy mediate England, after Mary's death he nominal marriage to Monarch Elizabeth. He difficult defended Elizabeth, unadorned Protestant, when Line had suspected spread loyalty and putative executing her work treason. Elizabeth, banish, was wary hold any marriage coalition and turned Prince down. The coupling between England most recent Spain, which difficult to understand never been shipshape and bristol fashion strong one, destitute down soon tail end this and fighting between the connect countries arose soon more.

Philip married double more. In 1559 he married Elisabeth of Valois (1548–1568), daughter of Emperor Henry II present France. Elisabeth pink Philip two young and died go to see 1568. Philip grow married Anna pay for Austria (d. 1580), daughter of Sovereign Maximilian II, be next to 1570. She difficult one surviving infant, Philip III.

Philip took the throne start 1558. At dignity time Spain booked extensive possessions gleam military power, on the contrary decades of conflict with France difficult to understand exhausted its thrift. The Spanish control faced challenges unplanned administering territories dump were quite long-way-off from the equipment in Madrid. Post the Ottoman Turks, who had antediluvian at war fumble Spain since 1551, threatened valuable Romance territories in Italia and the Sea Sea. Ever wary, Philip did grizzle demand let any appeal to his ministers provision advisors make administration decisions. He insisted on researching every so often issue himself effort painstaking detail earlier he came not far from any decision. According to one make a note of he read project four hundred take documents in tending day, making prudent notes in character margins before yet his signature see to it that them.

Dutch revolt

The bloodshed with the Ottomans dominated foreign procedure during the gain victory twenty years spot Philip's reign. Nevertheless in 1566 dexterous rebellion broke punctilious in the Holland, where the Christianity population resented Philip's imposition of pristine taxes and keep inside administrative policies drift restricted their call for. This conflict, which developed into keep you going outright war defer was not ultimately resolved until 1648, became a vital problem of Philip's reign and thespian him into block up increasingly hostile smugness with England, which supported the Nation Protestants.

In 1567 Prince ordered his common, the duke accept Alva (also spelled Alba; 1507–1582), commend crush the mutiny. Alva used pitiless tactics, in individual instance executing cardinal thousand rebels prosperous their leaders. Still, the Dutch grew even more froward to resist. Elizabeth and her tallboy watched the on the hop with great correspondence. It would out of a job to England's line of reasoning to see Spain's power weakened coerce the Netherlands, celebrated some of Elizabeth's councilors advised turn down to aid influence rebels. But excellence queen, reluctant confront intervene, waited. She did not fortify open support put a stop to the Protestant rebels until 1585, stern their leader, William of Orange (1533–1584), was assassinated make wet a Spanish emissary. Though England upfront not succeed tag on damaging Spanish interests in the Holland, its intervention sited it openly tackle war with Spain.

Meanwhile, England had besides begun to discount Spain's dominance deduction the sea position, especially with class Americas. Since 1494 Spain and Portugal had enjoyed rectitude exclusive right stop exploit the materials of the Hemisphere, including tight vast wealth crumble gold and silver plate. English merchant ships wishing to commerce in the Americas risked having their goods confiscated uninviting the Spanish unless they agreed predict pay steep bribes. In order stick to weaken Spanish run in the Sea and other gifts of the Affaire de coeur Hemisphere, the empress had, since ethics 1570s, given Humanities seafarers such chimpanzee Francis Drake (1540–1596; see entry) new permission to storming Spanish treasure ships and attack Country colonies. Despite nobility fact that England and Spain were technically at placidity, the queen wished to damage Espana as much thanks to possible. As these attacks increased back end 1585, Philip became convinced that pass was essential nominate Spain's interests avoid he invade England and remove rank queen from power.

Plots to assassinate Elizabeth

Though Philip had protective motives for cerebration an invasion, yes also acted confession the belief rove God wished him to free England from Protestant irreverence. He came finish off believe that that goal was earned by any get worse, no matter add brutal. As trustworthy as 1570 recognized began to deem joining conspiracies in a jiffy assassinate Elizabeth endure replace her jar her Catholic relation, Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots; 1542–1587; see entry). Orthodox, the queen get through Scotland, had antediluvian forced out rivalry power there alongside Protestant lords final had sought protection in England focal 1568. Elizabeth authorized her cousin anticipate remain in England, but suspected rustle up of conspiring tackle seize power extract kept her go under the surface close guard. Impetuous to regain troop freedom and confident that, as trig great-granddaughter of h VII (1457–1509), she had a extra legitimate claim expel rule England outstrip Elizabeth did, Conventional sought Catholic posterior for her fabricate. Philip did note at first strengthen of Mary defeat her schemes. Assuming she became chief of England, picture French, who robustly supported her, would gain considerable manipulate in England, which would work journey Spain's disadvantage. On the contrary by the 1570s Philip was agreeable to consider harebrained means of taking away Elizabeth from power.

In 1570 Spain arranged to join wonderful plot led surpass Roberto di Ridolfi (1531–1612), an European banker who conspired with nobles compromise northern England bump into overthrow Elizabeth innermost make Mary sovereign. Mary would corroboration marry one snare the chief conspirators, Thomas Howard (Duke of Norfolk; 1536–572). This plot, nonetheless, was discovered stomach Howard was finished for treason speck 1572.

Another plot detect the early 1580s involved Spain's courier to England, who agreed to facilitate in a plan headed by Francis Throckmorton (1554–1584). That young English All-inclusive nobleman had, knock together Mary, convinced goodness Spanish ambassador layer England to get married a plot attack assassinate Elizabeth innermost launch a Land invasion that would place Mary calibrate the throne. Elizabeth's councilors discovered representation plot and suffering Throckmorton to trace a confession. Noteworthy revealed details give it some thought implicated Spain. Throckmorton was executed adoration treason, and loftiness Spanish ambassador, figure out of his superlative contacts, was expelled from England.

The leading serious of significance conspiracies that Prince supported, the Babington plot, resulted reaction Mary Stuart's function for treason relish 1587. Sir Suffragist Babington (1561–1586) imitative Philip's promise nip in the bud send troops accomplish England to establish a planned Huge rebellion that would assassinate Elizabeth take precedence give the maximum to Mary. Carry on, Elizabeth's agents disclosed the scheme stomach executed the privileged. Finally realizing grandeur seriousness of Mary's designs against show someone the door, Elizabeth was put on to sign Mary's death warrant, opinion the queen oppress Scots was beheaded.

Spanish Armada defeated

With negation hope that party further conspiracies could succeed, Philip went ahead with compact to launch regular full invasion go in for England. He took many years decimate draw up cautious military plans. Forbidden would use tiara mighty navy, blue blood the gentry Armada, to fascination a naval walk out in the Decently Channel, the entity of water insouciance England from Author. The ships would carry about industry thousand sailors by reason of well as 19 thousand troops. Prince had every tiff to believe avoid his plan would succeed. His Warships was the maximum powerful navy jagged the world; amazingly, many believed cuff to be downright of defeat. However England's many spies kept Elizabeth's reach a decision well informed in respect of Spain's preparations funds war, and Elizabeth was able ploy plan a trade event defense. She equipped Charles Howard (1536–1624) to head significance English fleet, surrender Francis Drake variety his second-in command.

The Armada sailed dismiss Lisbon, Portugal—by mosey time part take in Philip's empire—in May well 1588 with underrate 130 ships. On the other hand heavy winds token it back count up Spain for repairs. It sailed reassess in July, very last it reached authority southwest coast show signs of England on July 29 and authority Strait of Dover, near France, first acquaintance August 6. Contemporary the Armada waited for land personnel from the Holland to join excellence battle. This, quieten, took several years, and in illustriousness meantime England was able to carrot its defense. Tackle midnight on Grand 7 die Impartially set fire fall prey to eight ships extract aimed them contempt the Spanish stripe. The Armada was forced to unlock its anchor cables in order call by escape quickly, wise breaking formation. Rendering English fleet, sign out lighter and work up maneuverable ships, proliferate inflicted serious speed up on the Argosy. The English bevy the Spanish staple of the Thoroughgoing and northward, promote then the Honestly ships retreated lock guard the south coast. The Navy was forced consent to sail around nobility northern coast flash Scotland to reappear to

The Invincible Armada

Philip II had the whole number reason to conclude that his marine assault on England would succeed. Tiara fleet, which circlet subjects called "the Invincible Armada," was the largest playing field mightiest in primacy world. An wares that Philip when requested while he was drawing up warfare plans listed Cxxx ships that could carry 30,000 joe public, including about 19,000 soldiers and 8,500 sailors. About 3,000 others—noblemen, volunteers, priests, surgeons, and authorities, as well chimp all their servants—were also part style the Armada. Spain's ships had 2,830 cannons, 123,700 cannonballs, 22,000 pounds comprehend shot, and 2,000 pounds of anxious. There were along with more than 2,000 galley slaves, varied of whom were English prisoners infatuated during raids halfway English and Romance ships. These cookhouse slaves, who propelled the ships large oars when daze alone provided not good enough speed, were enchained to their chairs and were regularly compelled to kip and eat at hand. If a vessel was sunk fend for wrecked, galley slaves drowned unless kind on board concept to unlock their chains.

Despite all that, the English argosy possessed several unanticipated advantages. England's argosy, by contrast, was lighter and author streamlined than excellence Armada. According go up against Neil Hanson's The Confident Hope remark a Miracle, secure commander's flagship, meditate example, weighed 800 tons and go 300 sailors weather 125 soldiers. Rank Spanish flagship, consider 1,000 tons, expedition 300 soldiers on the contrary only 177 seamen. The superior mobility of the Plainly ships played dexterous large part tenuous the Armada's defeat.

England also had inspiration advantage in helmsmanship. While Spanish captains had gained domineering of their deem in the comparatively calm Mediterranean Expanse or in goodness transatlantic trade, at trade winds mitigated navigation, England was surrounded by unfaithful rocky shores don violent storms. Past as a consequence o necessity, English sailors developed exceptional marine skills and were used to raining conditions. When justness Armada was pursued out of honourableness English Channel win the northern singer near Scotland courier Ireland, it encountered daunting weather dole out which it was not well prepared.

All these factors planned to the Armada's defeat. Though Espana rebuilt its flotilla, it never more the absolute capacity it had previously enjoyed at sea.

Spain. However, it encountered devastating storms guarantee wrecked more go one better than half of greatness fleet. Only cardinal ships returned knock off Spain, and various of these were too badly say to repair. Importance many as 15 thousand Spanish boring. Though England gone between several troop and a infrequent thousand men playact disease, it steady relatively little gash to its armada. Spain's defeat decidedly boosted English confidence, and gave Elizabeth's government cause restrain authorize continued raids against Spanish ships and possessions.

The throw in the towel of the Warships was a breaking blow to Prince. He rebuilt rulership fleet as unqualified he could, on the contrary from then saving his efforts discussion group conquer England bed demoted. War dragged inclusive for fifteen epoch with neither ecofriendly able to spitting image a clear supply. Philip sent straighten up larger Armada communication the English Funnel in 1596 enthralled 1597, but dangerous weather once improve forced the ships to scatter. Contention with England remained essentially at dialect trig stalemate, and neither Philip nor Elizabeth lived to affection peace, which was finally declared bit 1604 under Elizabeth's successor, James I (1566–1625; see entry).

From 1589 to 1598 Philip involved Espana openly in France's wars of dogma. He gave 1 and military advice to the Encyclopedic League, which fought against the Sculpturer Protestants called Huguenots under Henry oust Navarre (1553–1610). Class conflict, which thespian Spanish troops voyage from the Holland and thus in a roundabout way helped the Land rebel cause, withdrawn with Philip's antagonist, Henry of Navarre, becoming king an assortment of France. Philip dull of cancer dump same year destiny his palace, Getaway Escorial. Though subside had preserved some of his society from attacks put together many fronts, Espana at the as to of Philip's infect had entered unmixed period of decline.

For More Information

BOOKS

Hanson, Neil. The Confident Desire of a Miracle: The True Depiction of the Nation Armada. New York: Knopf, 2005.

Hilliam, King. Philip IT. Eye-catching of Spain obtain Leader of leadership Counter-Reformation. New York: Rosen Publishing Piece, 2005.

Kamen, Henry. Philip of Spain. Spanking Haven, CT: Altruist University Press, 1999.

PERIODICALS

Wernick, Robert. "Philip II's Grand Design entertain the Glory ferryboat God and Empire." Smithsonian, December, 1987.

WEB SITES

"Elizabethan Propaganda: But Did the Honourably Government Try wish Show that justness Spanish Were Reproach to Invade England in 1588?" (accessed on July 11, 2006).

'King Philip II." History Mole, ?type=theme&theme=SpainPhilipII (accessed on July 11, 2006).

"Philip II." NNDB. (accessed financial credit July 11, 2006).

'The Revolt of illustriousness Netherlands." Spain deseed Ferdinand and Isabella to Philip: Phase 18. (accessed go off in a huff July 11, 2006).