Spain Under Philip II (r. 1556-1598)
• Son of Charles V
• Sought to re-impose
Catholicism in Europe
Philip’s Inheritance
• His father, Charles V resigned
– Spain, the Netherlands, and the New World
went to Philip
– The HRE went to Charles’ brother, Ferdinand
I (r. 1558-1564)
Philip’s Spain
• Wealthy…but in trouble
– Inflation and taxation (from what?)
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The Siglo de Oro (1550-1650)
Defeated the Turks at Lepanto in 1571
Acquired Portugal in 1580
El Escorial
– Royal palace that symbolized the power of
Phillip II as well as his commitment to his
Catholic Crusade
The Revolt in the Netherlands,
1566
• The Netherlands (or Low Countries)
• 17 Provinces
The Dutch Revolt
• Catholic-Protestant Divide
– Phillip sought to crush the Rise of Calvinism
in the Netherlands
• Anti-Spanish sentiment
– Led by William of Orange (The Silent)
– The Duke of Alba (Spanish) (r. 1567-1573)
• The Council of Troubles (Council of Blood)
• Union of Utrecht (modern-day
Netherlands)
• Twelve Year Truce (1609)
England and Spain
Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603)
• Religious
moderation…
• Foreign policy
– The Netherlands
• A “dagger pointed at
the heart of England”
• 1585: Overt aid to the
Dutch Protestants
during the Dutch Revolt
• Major blow to Phillips
goal of maintaining
Catholicism throughout
Mary, Queen of Scots
• Daughter of Mary de
Guise and James V of
Scotland
• Married Francis II of
France
• Very Catholic
• Had a right to the throne
• Plotted against Elizabeth
• Executed in 1587
The Spanish Armada,1588
Spanish Armada
• Spain’s attempt to invade England that
ended in a huge disaster
• Signaled the rise of England as a world
naval power
• Spain remains a world power but England
rivals and eventually surpasses Spain as a
powerhouse