Philip II of Spain

Philip II (Valladolid, 21 may 1527 - San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 13 september 1598) was ruler of Castile, Aragón (Spain forms which countries together), Naples, Sicily, theSpanish Netherlands and Portugal. By this human unions had Philip dynastic different tracking numbers, but he is best known under the name Philip II who refers to his kingship over Castile.

He was ruler of the largest colonial empire in the 16th century, that Portugal also annexed in 1580, at that time the only other colonial power. As a result, he had a lot of money available for the fight against the Islamic Ottomans and interference in the European religious strife; to this end, can also be counted among the Dutch revolt, although other motives also played a role in it. Together with his second wife Mary I of England he was, until her death, also King of England for four years, hoping to be able to conceive a Catholic heir who would reign over England and the low countries. It's not until his fourth and last wife he could conceive the desired male heir to the throne of Spain. Under his reign Spain reached the height of his power, but Philip put his country on a track of economic exhaustion and cultural decay, which after his death would affect Spain's status as a great power.



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[hide] *dominant position 1  ==Dominant Position[ Edit] == Philip was the only son of Emperor Charles V (King of Spain as Charles I) at his lawful wife Isabella of Portugal. He got a good education and can be regarded as an intellectual properly developed Frost, who could read Latin. Already in 1549 he was from March 17, been a number of months in the Netherlands, at the invitation of his father to be with his future subjects to come meet. At first sight he had nothing of a Spaniard with his blond hair and beard, blue eyes and white skin. Yet he was a born and bred Spaniard, who because of his Portuguese mother also spoke Portuguese, but no English, French or German, something in his position was a handicap.
 * 2 Economy and governance
 * 3 Four marriages and descendants
 * 4 faith as motivation for his policy
 * 5 war with the Ottoman Empire
 * 6 Rebellion in the low countries
 * 7 war with England
 * annexation of Portugal 8
 * intervention in France 9
 * 10 Legacy
 * 11 marriages and children
 * 12 Titles
 * motto Philip II 13
 * 14 For parents
 * 15 Literature

From 1539, after the death of his mother, he performed in Spain already as regent for his father, who was traveling almost constantly in his vast Empire. From 1554 to 1556 he ruled together with his second wife, the English Queen Mary Tudor of England, but could no longer continue because of its many obligations elsewhere. In 1555 he succeeded his father as Lord of the Netherlands. Unlike his father born in Ghent and in Mechelen grew up he had no personal connection with the Netherlands. He loathed noticeably the boldness and casual attitude of the residents. The Spanish throne he obtained after his father abdicated as King of Spain in 1556 . In addition, he gave up areas in the Franche-Comté and Italy, which by their geographical position also contributed to the encirclement of France by the Habsburgs.

During almost his entire reign his main rival France fell prey to religious strife (the French wars). At the end of 1550 he could inflict crushing defeats France a few and thus the lingering for decades, Italian wars between France and the Habsburgs in 1559 advantageous settlement with the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis.

After the death of Charles V in 1558 broke down the German and Austrian areas of the Habsburg empire to unmanageable proportions extended themselves off and fell to his uncle, Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, which the German branch of the Habsburg House continued. There was an anti-Philip lobby emerged under the name League of Heidelberg. Philip was by many German to Spanish and Catholic electors stood. Bell, although he could be expected to also Catholic, the relatively tolerant religious policy in the spirit of the Religious peace of Augsburg would continue. The aim of Charles V for its Spanish and German regions to unite under one Imperial Crown was failed.

As King of Spain Philip got, of course, the Spanish colonial empire. Spain and Portugal had colonies, which then still the only European powers when alone thanks to the gold and silver fleets from Central and South America were very profitable. Other European powers still in 1556 had to start their colonial expansion. In 1580 Philip could, relying on his Portuguese mother and first wife, interfere in the succession crisis in Portugal, and with some effort this country with the associated acquire colonies, what are clout even further increased.

Philip could especially in the first half of his 42-year-old reign the best army in Europe on the leg and thus the most powerful man in Europe, as had been his father Charles V also. Spain was also the biggest maritime power of the 16th century and had to be, to the colonial empire to be able to maintain and develop together. Even the disastrous expedition of the Armada of 1588 has not substantially changed that position. ==Economy and administration[ Edit] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The ongoing wars and the financial problems from the 1570s demanded their toll; the Spanish army was on its peak. Apart from the military problems also played a role Spain's political and economic establishment. Spain knew no central Government, but only regional Governments, which carried out the instructions of the King. Philip II had in principle absolute power in his Kingdom, but he had a tendency to deal with too many details, at the expense of the big lines. As a result, the Executive Board was not efficient.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The economic policy had serious shortcomings: agriculture was neglected, making Spain dependent on import, which was paid with gold and silver imported from America, while the nobility and church were exempt from tax. This led to hyperinflation. Turning off Jews and Moors, whereby Spain skilled craftsmen and merchants lost, also did the economy any good. Spain kept on the facade of a great power, but suffered from internal decay. At sea Spain got to do with emerging maritime powers England and theDutch Republic. ==Four marriages and descendants<span class="mw-editsection" len="356" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip II married in 1543 with Princess Maria of Portugal. They had a son in 1545 , Don Carlos of Spain (1545-1568). Maria died four days after birth.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip tried to expand his power by in 1554 to marry the Catholic English Queen Mary Tudor. Philip did this to England as an ally to get into the ongoing Italian wars against France since 1494 and to Maria to provide a Catholic heir to the throne and thus her Protestant younger sister Elizabeth to the throne to keep away. Maria was mainly concerned to do the latter. In 1555 and 1556 acquired notoriety in England this royal couple with fierce persecution of Protestant heretics. It made Mary Tudor the nickname ' Bloody Mary ' on, but had no lasting effect on the emerging Protestantism. Philip had to leave because of its obligations in 1556 as Lord of the Netherlands and as King of Spain. He did have England been as reluctant ally against France, in which England would lose to France Calais in 1558, the year in which Maria died childless. Elizabeth was when her legitimate heiress. Philip had already for Maria's death tried to persuade Elizabeth to a marriage. This went for a number of reasons (as indeed all subsequent wedding proposals to Elizabeth). Elizabeth made after taking office as quickly as possible an end to the Alliance with Spain against France. Philip believed his son Don Carlos was behind the failed marriage proposal. This Carlos, Philip ' legitimate successor in Spain, would have shown signs of madness and frenzy. In 1568 the young Prince could not accept that his father the Duke of Alba in its place had appointed Governor of the Netherlands and he would want to kill his father have. When this came out, he tried to flee from Spain, but he was caught and imprisoned by his father. In the same year he died mysteriously. Evil rumours that he would have been killed on the orders of his father are never proven.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Spain ended In 1559 with the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis in 1494 started a series of eleven Italian wars with France. This country felt surrounded in the 16th and 17th centuries by the German and the Spanish Habsburgs; French influence in Italy for France not only had economic significance, but also as geo-strategic advantage that that was thus hampered encirclement. Spain, however, could be considered provisionally as the winner and retained considerable influence in Italy. Until the years 1570 would the Spanish hegemony in Europe are inviolable. The immediate consequence of this Treaty was that both the Catholic powers the hands free to fight, which were given to religious strife would still lead to Spanish interference in French French wars.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">As part of the peace treaty (of Cateau-Cambrésis) married Philip with the 14-year-old daughter of the French King Henry II, Elisabeth of Valois. They had previously been promised to Philip ' at the time, 14-year-old son Don Carlos. With Elisabeth he got two daughters, Isabella (1566) and Catherine (1567), but no sons. Elisabeth died in 1568 after a number of miscarriages.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1570 he married his fourth wife, his 22 years younger niece Anna of Austria, daughter of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, who until his death in 1568, also had been already promised to Don Carlos. At this woman he first got three sons who died very young and only in 1578, Philip was then nearly 51 years old, he got the son who would replace him as Philip III of Spain. Then he got another daughter who died at the age of 3. ==Faith as motivation for his policy<span class="mw-editsection" len="364" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Statue from 1753 of Philip II inMadrid<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Like many of his contemporaries Philip II was convinced of the divine origin and Providence on the kingship, but even more so than other rulers of his time he put in for religious issues, in his case for defending the Catholic Church against both the Islamic Ottomans then very powerful and expansive as against the rising Protestantism.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip II saw himself among other things as the leader of the Counter-Reformation, the reaction of the Roman Catholic Church on the emerging Protestantism in Europe. For Philip II, there was no difference between the interests of the Catholic Church and those of Spain. He drew a harder line than his father, who at the end of his reign in the German part of his empire at the peace of Augsburg the principle cuius regio, eius religio should have accept, where a local ruler in his (or her) own the own area Protestant or Catholic religion was allowed to impose to the nationals. Philip fought not only in his own empire any deviation of Catholicism, but also tried beyond repeatedly Protestant princes and pretenders to the throne to topple their country can retain for the Catholic faith.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">His fear of being made to answer for any missteps to God, that he studied in detail every issue, in which his counselors could exert important influence on its policy. This earned him the nickname ' Rey prudent ' (= cautious King) on delay, but it worked in hand, while the 16th-century means of communication already were insufficient for its rich, not only in different parts of Europe, but also in North and South America and Southeast Asia under control.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A commitment to Catholicism and the growing wealth from the colonies did Philip II more and more bets on colonial expansion, which was needed to pay for its interference in all kinds of European wars of religion. In the meantime, however, he neglected his real power base, the economic development of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain could afford the best army in Europe and had a relatively stable, powerful Government, while overt religious strife as in France, Germany and the Netherlands no chance. The power of Spain extended still further in his early years. ==War with the Ottoman Empire<span class="mw-editsection" len="357" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Battle of Lepanto, 1571<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Not only the Catholic Spanish Empire, but also the Islamic Ottoman or Turkish Empire at the time was at the height of his power. In 1558 the Ottomans had conquered the Balearic Islands and plundered and even did attacks on the Spanish coast. The southern shore of the Mediterranean and the Balkans were conquered in the decades before largely;especially the Balkans could now be seen as a springboard to Italy. After the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1571 Pope Pius V on the Venetians finally got for each other that a ' Holy League ' are set, which went to Philip II effectively itself as a defender of Christian Europe against the islam.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">On 7 October 1571, the fleet of Spain and a number of southern European allies, commanded by Juan of Austria, a half-brother of Philip, the Ottomans atLepanto on the west coast of Greece a heavy loss. This is still one of the largest naval battles in history, which to this day is commemorated in Catholic countries with the ringing of the Angelus. The win, however, was not fully exploited because the League pretty soon again fell apart due to internal contradictions. It would be even more than a century before the Ottoman Empire finally on the retreat was forced. Spain now faced with another problem in Europe: the rebellion in the low countries. ==Rebellion in the low countries<span class="mw-editsection" len="352" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Since Philip's final departure from the Netherlands in 1559 was the political situation there deteriorated still further. Philip allowed the Archbishop of Mechelen, Granvelle, no longer maintaining as the highest judge of the former Regent Margaret of Parma, Philip's half-sister and called him back for good in 1564. He was by the Dutch nobles and the estates General too much seen as Manager, who pulled the strings on behalf of the King, in addition to the inexperienced Margaretha. However, the nobles were not primarily to the person to the high tax burden, Granvelle, but violations of the traditional powers of the regions and to the al from the time of Charles V dating anti-heretical placards. Especially in the northern Netherlands had Protestantism well rooted. Philip tried in his letters from the forest of Segovia in October 1565 to make it clear that hope of softening of the anti-heretical measures was vain.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1566 the petition of the nobles was submitted to the relatively popular Governor, with the request to lift the Inquisition. The approximately 200 nobles were jeered by her advisers and broke up for ' gueux ' (beggars).Margaret welcomed a provisional suspension of the activities of the Inquisition, so the nobles could collect signatures, which then with petition at Philip II himself could be submitted. There would, however, never come of it. Once the repression in 1566 after decades of the Baptist, vomiting was suspended and the Calvinist Protestantism by in public life, in the form of sermons and massively visited violently in the iconoclastic.

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, byAnthonis Mor van Dashorst<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip II sent the Duke of Alba to already formidable in order. Against the hard hitting action of Alva soon vehemently protest broke out. Margaret of Parma resigned in protest and even left for Italy, after which Alva to Governor was appointed. The counts Egmont and Hoorne, two of the main nobles, were beheaded on the market in Brussels and William of Orange escaped but just in time to Germany, like many other nobles. The combination of military and religious repression, on the one hand and, on the other hand, an increase in the taxes (the "Tiende penning"), only hardened the divisions; even many Catholics turned against the regime. From 1568 the Dutch revolt was a fact and would pre-empt theeighty years ' war.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Battles followed each other on in oosterweel, Heiligerlee and Jemgum and a Battle on the Zuiderzee with the sea beggars. The sea beggars hijacker letters of William of Orange had gotten and names in Den Briel in 1572. Vlissingen also fell into the hands of the insurgents, who could make a close adviser of Alva to hang in public. A massacre in Mechelen by Spanish troops in October 1572 brought the southern Netherlands into line, but somewhat similar measures in Zutphen and Naarden (Nov./Dec. 1572) had the opposite effect in the northern Netherlands. Haarlem In 1573 by the Spaniards and severely punished, but in that year a Alkmaar withstood siege. In december of that year was Alva resigned as Governor-General, officially granted for health reasons. He had indeed a weak health, but it was clear that his mission, in order, was not successful. Luis de Zúñiga y Requesens was appointed as successor. This failed to take Lead and took a somewhat milder attitude, because he abolished the hated Tiende Penning off. However, his stance hardened again when the negotiations of Breda failed. Suddenly Requesens died In March 1576 .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The fight in the Netherlands, the rising tensions with England and the constant invasion threat of Ottoman silk laid a strong pressure on the Treasury. Spain several times over the next decades would be declared bankrupt. Overdue payment of wage to his troops on november 4, 1576 led to a disastrous sacking of Antwerp, which is known as the Spanish fury.

The great market Antwerp with the Town Hall during the Spanish fury, a mutiny which broke out because of overdue payment for the Spanish troops<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The anti-Spanish sentiments in the Netherlands were significantly strengthened, even among Catholics. William of Orange could thereby on 8 november of that year a great political success, the pacification of Ghent, which are ideal of administrative unit of the Netherlands on the basis of religious freedom brought closer. The new Governor Juan of Austria, which had relieved The Requesens, reached a difficult compromise with the pacification United regions in the Union of Brussels.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The unity among the regions and the compromise with the new Governor proved to be only temporary. Two years later, Governor Don Juan the rebellious regions a crushing defeat in the battle of Gembloux. Afterwards, the remaining insurgent regions on 1 August 1578 in the southern Netherlands still a reasonable success in the battle of Rijmenam, because the Spaniards were still desperately short of cash. In addition, that same year, Juan of Austria died at the age of 31. In 1579 the northern and Southern Netherlands yet again fell apart in the Protestant Union of Utrecht and the Catholic Union of Arras. The rebellion had been fixed in the northern Netherlands in 1581 political form, which led to the Act of abjuration, with which the Northern States-General Philip II ' Quit ' (scrapped) stated of his power. Initially it was their intention to transfer sovereignty to the French Prince François, Duke of Anjou and thus to recruit France as an ally, but this was not a success. His Catholicism was difficult to accept and there were competence issues between the French Prince and the States General. After a "festive parade" of Anjous troops in Antwerp resulted in the French fury he left again (1583).

The Duke of Parma was one of the ablest men's field that Philip has ever owned<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip appointed after the death of Juan of Austria: a new Governor Margaret of Parma, the son of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma that would be. These turned out to be an able General that a long series of military successes against the northern Netherlands recorded. Spain Portugal in 1580 and its colonies got in possession, making it a little better with the Spanish finances went. In 1585 was the Division of the northern and Southern Netherlands sealed by Parma's intake of Antwerp and the subsequent blockade of the Western Scheldt by the northern Netherlands and the massive migration of Protestants to the North. William of Orange, the inspiration behind the uprising, on whose head had put a price, Philip was in 1584 by Balthasar Gérardmurdered. After joining the insurgents were looking for England and in horse-drawn weary went so far as to the sovereignty they Queen Elizabeth about offered the northern Netherlands . She was at least protestant and was from war with Spainin 1585. They got scared for that back because this would escalate the war further, while the Dutch rebels as allies not many suggested. They sent in 1587 her confidant Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to take the lead. He was protestant, but as with François, Duke of Anjou ran the collaboration piece on the power demand. Could the dilemma between the Northern States General bringing a powerful ally and not solve the loss of sovereignty and so but only went further; Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was the political leader of the rebellion, the young Prince Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange the military. In the years 1590 Prince Maurice and Oldenbarnevelt made use of the fragmentation of the Spanish power (by intervention in the French Huguenot wars) to the war to give a final twist to their advantage. At the end of the 16th century could Spain North of the great rivers no more serious threat for the rebellion forms.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1598, the year of his death, Philip II signed the deed of Distance, his daughter Isabella of Spain and her husband Grand Duke Albrecht of Austria the country gave guardianship of the Netherlands as a dowry, although this is in fact only concerned the Southern Netherlands . This Act was not away of sovereignty; the Spanish King continued to keep the power to appoint successors for the Governor. ==War with England<span class="mw-editsection" len="346" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">After the death of Mary Tudor in 1558 was the relationship with England still further deteriorated; not only not Elizabeth I of England wanted to marry him, they also promoted Protestantism in its own country; In addition, English privateers demanded a heavy toll of the Spanish shipping on the colonies. The Catholic Scottish Queen Mary Stuart was by Maria Tudor in her will designated as her successor on the English throne. Maria Stuart was also by Philip considered suitable to take to Elizabeths throne. They came, however, fell in their own country because of its disastrous choices of marriage partners and therefore had to flee to England in 1568 and protection questions to her arch rival Elizabeth. In 1585 the Spanish-English war broke out, would live to see the end of which neither Philip nor Elizabeth. This war was initially mainly fought at sea.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots in 1587, commissioned by Elizabeth because of State dangerous intrigue, as well as support in that year to the Elizabeths Dutch revolt, Philip II brought to venture an invasion of England. If England once on the knees was forced, with the insurgents in the Netherlands can be judged. With a huge fleet, the Armadain 1588, he sent a large army to England, with the abolition of Duke of Parma with its army had to be picked up from the southern Netherlands to strengthen the soldiers on board. After a successful landing would be defenseless against such a force majeure the English country army. However, the Armada suffered by adverse winds, ineffective tactics of an inexperienced Admiral and little experienced Gunners a defeat in the battle of Gravelines and couldn't even let Parma's troops boarding. Of an invasion in England came to nothing and at most a third of his ships and men returned, after a disastrous trip to Scotland and Ireland back to Spain. Elizabeths position was in her own country by this external threat stronger than ever. Philip took the responsibility for this failure in itself and punished his commanders barely. He saw the defeat as God's punishment for its poor lifestyle and also in England and the Dutch Republic was seen in God's hand in this. There were commemorative medals struck with the inscription: ' God's breath has them scattered '. Two other invasion fleets, in 1596 and 1597, by bad weather nor reached their goal. ==Annexation of Portugal<span class="mw-editsection" len="349" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1580, a succession problem arose in Portugal because the Royal family of Portugal died out. Philip's mother was a Portuguese Princess and Philip appointed himself King of Portugal on the basis hereof. This was initially not accepted by the Portuguese population, which passed to Philip II an invasion and occupation of the country. He put the successfully when all old ' Iron Duke ' of Alva for the last time in. Portugal would be 60 years are part of the Spanish Empire. The annexation of Portugal supplied new colonies and resources on, affecting the financial problems of Philip were somewhat relieved. ==Intervention in France<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Starting from Spain mixed in August 1589 the French wars in France, because there the protestant Henry of Navarre itself after the assassination of Henry III of France as legitimate heir had proclaimed King Henry IV and Paris besieged. Philip's best General, Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, was called away from the Netherlands in order to relieve Paris . He did also, but was later wounded and died at Arras in 1592. The rebellion has he so never be able to fight. It would take Spain to 1600 in the Netherlands a General of similar stature could deploy in the person of Ambrogio Spinola. The intervention in France relieved so the pressure on the Netherlands, where starting from 1590 Maurice of Orange developed into an able General and turn the tide of the eighty years ' war finally returned. The English supported the Protestants in France, because of their own conflict with Spain. Philip moved in 1593 his daughter Isabella of Spain, which had a French mother, emerge as pretender for the French throne. However, this fell into bad Earth and a few months later, Henry IV converted to Catholicism in order to make acceptable as King. So he could convert the domestic religious conflict in a bilateral conflict with Spain. In 1595 he openly declared the war. It was not until the year of Philip's death, France was in 1598, the Edict of Nantes with a religious compromise, with which the French wars came to an end. With it came an end to the Spanish and the English intervention. ==Legacy<span class="mw-editsection" len="340" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the end of his life had Philip II but little of its goals are achieved. He had the Ottomans resist, but by no means disabled; France was a Catholic power remained, but was ruled by the notorious opportunist in religious respect, Henry IV. In 1593 at his (second) conversion to Catholicism were him the winged words "Paris is worth a mass me" attributed, while he remained a certain religious freedom award to the Protestants. By Philip's intervention in France has eluded him was the chance to deal with the Protestant rebels in the Netherlands.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the Catholic English Queen Mary Tudor he had no English throne successor can beget, which has contributed significantly to the victory of Protestantism in England; After the sinking of the Armada in 1588 startedEngland and the Dutch Republic to develop into global maritime powers, who not only refused to repent, but in addition, threatened colonies and shipping routes. Its remaining Southern Netherlands by the new Dutch Republic were plagued with a blockade of the port of Antwerp, while France formed a potential threat from the South.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">However, there are successes to report. The Association of the Portuguese and the Spanish throne, whereby its colonial empire was expanded greatly, would maintain 60 years and the Spanish colonial empire would be even until the 19th century, making it the largest in the world continue to Catholicism in Latin America and in the Philippines and the Spanish got hold a world language was.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">What he himself has considered as a success, no doubt, was the foreclosure of his Kingdom to the South of the Pyrenees of Protestantism and of early modern intellectual developments. This isolation is noticeable remained well into the 20th century.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Philip II was succeeded by his 20-year-old son Philip III, in whose competence he had no confidence. He left him a deadly depleted Spain and the immense Palace Escorial near Madrid after. Cervantes' famous novelDon Quixote is considered to be a manifestation of the disillusionment that master made his most loyal supporters. ==Marriages and children<span class="mw-editsection" len="350" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p lang="en" len="55" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">King Philip II was married four times and had eight children:

==Titles<span class="mw-editsection" len="334" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ==Motto Philip II<span class="mw-editsection" len="348" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.3999996185303px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The motto of Philip II was DOMINVS MIHI ADIVTOR. That means the Lord is my helper. This motto can be found on ancient coins, also on the stained glass window of the Grote Kerk or Sint-janskerk (Gouda), known as King glass. This window was manufactured by Dirck Crabeth in 1557 and is donated by Philip II and Mary Tudor. ==For Parents<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * 1543: Princess Maria Emanuela of Portugal, daughter of King Johan III of Portugal.
 * Carlos (8 July 24 July 1545 - 1568).
 * 1554: Queen Mary I of England, eldest daughter of King Henry VIII of England. They had no children.
 * 1559: Princess Elisabeth of France, daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de ' Medici.
 * Isabella (12 August 1566 – 1 december 1633), married Albert VII, Archduke of Austria.
 * Catharina (10 October 1567 - 6 november 1597), married Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy.
 * 1570: Princess Anna of Austria, daughter of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor.
 * Fernando (4 december 1571 – 18 October 1578).
 * Carlos Lorenzo (12 August 1573 – 30 June 1575).
 * Diego Félix (15 August 1575 – 21 november 1582).
 * Philip III (3 april 1578 – 31 March 1621), King of Spain after his father's death.
 * Maria (14 February 1580 – 5 August 1583).
 * 16 January 13 september 1556 - 1598: King of Castile as Philip II (this explains its name Philip II)
 * January 16, 1556-13 september 1598: King of Aragon as Philip I
 * January 16, 1556-13 september 1598: King of Navarre as Philip I
 * January 16, 1556-13 september 1598: King of Jerusalem as Philip I (titular)
 * 1554 -13 september 1598: King of Naples as Philip I
 * 1554-13 september 1598: King of Sicily as Philip I
 * 1554-13 september 1598: King of Sardinia as Philip I
 * 1580 -13 september 1598: King of Portugal as Philip I
 * 10 June 1556-13 september 1598: Duke of Burgundy as Philip V (although Louis XI, King of France had taken this area when Charles the bold died)
 * 25 October 6 may 1555 -1598: Duke of Brabant as Philip IV
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Duke of guelders as Philip IV
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Duke of Limburg as Philip IV
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Duke of Lothier as Philip II
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Duke of Luxembourg as Philip VI
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Margrave of Namur as Philip VII
 * 10 June 1556-13 september 1598: count of Vrij-Burgundy (Franche-Comté) as Philip VII
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Artois as Philip IV
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Charolais as Philip V
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Flanders as Philip III
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Hainault as Philip III
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Holland as Philip III
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Zeeland as Philip II
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Zutphen as Philip II
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: count of Drenthe as Philip I
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Lord of Friesland as Philip I
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Lord of Tournai
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Lord of Utrecht as Philip I
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Lord of Overijssel, Bet and Westwoldingerland as Philip I
 * October 25, 1555-6 may 1598: Lord of Groningen as Philip I