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| <b>Philip II</b> (] - ]), King of |
<b>Philip II</b> (] - ]), ], was born at ], the only son of the ], ] and Isabella of Portugal. His first marriage (1543) was to Princess Mary of ], their son being ] (1545-1568). Following Mary's death in 1546, he sought an alliance with ], marrying the ] Queen ] in ]. The marriage was unpopular with her subjects, and was a purely political alliance as far as Philip was concerned. In ], Philip succeeded to the throne of Spain, as a result of his father's abdication, but he did not choose to reside in the country until his father's death two years later. | ||
| After his second wife, ] (1553-1558), died childless, Philip showed an interest in marrying her ] younger sister, Queen ], but the idea was repugnant to Elizabeth. In the 1567 revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule, Philip believed his son Don Carlos had conspired against him and as a result Philip imprisoned his son. When the prince died shortly thereafter, Philip's enemies accused him of having ordered the murder of his own son. | After his second wife, ] (1553-1558), died childless, Philip showed an interest in marrying her ] younger sister, Queen ], but the idea was repugnant to Elizabeth. In the 1567 revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule, Philip believed his son Don Carlos had conspired against him and as a result Philip imprisoned his son. When the prince died shortly thereafter, Philip's enemies accused him of having ordered the murder of his own son. | ||
Revision as of 13:11, 29 August 2002
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Philip II (1527 - 1598), King of Spain, was born at Valladolid, the only son of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. His first marriage (1543) was to Princess Mary of Portugal, their son being Don Carlos (1545-1568). Following Mary's death in 1546, he sought an alliance with England, marrying the Catholic Queen Mary I of England in 1554. The marriage was unpopular with her subjects, and was a purely political alliance as far as Philip was concerned. In 1556, Philip succeeded to the throne of Spain, as a result of his father's abdication, but he did not choose to reside in the country until his father's death two years later.
After his second wife, Mary Tudor (1553-1558), died childless, Philip showed an interest in marrying her Protestant younger sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England, but the idea was repugnant to Elizabeth. In the 1567 revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule, Philip believed his son Don Carlos had conspired against him and as a result Philip imprisoned his son. When the prince died shortly thereafter, Philip's enemies accused him of having ordered the murder of his own son.
Spain and England became enemies, especially in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. In 1559 the 60-year war with France ended with the signing of the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. Part of the peace process was Philip's third marriage to Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Henri II of France who in fact had first been been promised to his son, Don Carlos. Once again widowed, he married, in 1570, Anna, daughter of the Emperor Maximilian II, who provided him with the heir, Philip.
During Philip II of Spain’s reign the Philippine Islands were conquered and named for him and a North American colony was established in Florida. But, his reign was troubled by financial instability and threatened Muslim invasions, as well as conflict with England and the Netherlands. The seven United Provinces eventually declared their independence from the Spanish king in 1581 following the Union of Utrecht of 1579. Meanwhile, Philip inherited the throne of Portugal, and the success of colonisation in America improved his financial position, enabling him to show greater aggression towards his enemies. The execution of Mary, Queen of Scots provided him with an excuse for an attempted invasion of England, and it was largely through luck that his Spanish Armada was defeated in 1588.
From 1590 to 1598 he was again at war against the Huguenot King Henry IV of France over religion.
He died in 1598 and was succeeded by his son, King Philip III of Spain.