Philip  II (1527 –  1598) & Philip III ( 1578 – 1621)  was King of Spain.PHILIP III WAS ALSO as Philip II, King of Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia and Duke of Milan from 1598 until his death.

king PHILIP  II of spain

Philip II (1527 –  1598) was King of Spain (1556–98), King of Portugal (1581–98, as Philip I, Filipe I), King of Naples and Sicily (both from 1554), and jure uxoris King of England and Ireland (during his marriage to Queen Mary I from 1554–58).He was also Duke of Milan. From 1555, he was lord of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. Known in Spain as "Felipe el Prudente" ('"Philip the Prudent'"), his empire included territories on every continent then known to Europeans, including his namesake the Philippines.He spent his childhood with his mother at the royal court in Castile. One of her Portuguese ladies, Dona Leonor de Mascarenhas, helped her in rearing him. He forged life-long close relationships with his two pages, Rui Gomes da Silva and Luis de Requesens. During his reign, Spain reached the height of its influence and power. This is sometimes called the Golden Age. He was born in the Spanish capital Valladolid, Philip was the first child and the only son to reach adulthood of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his Portuguese wife, Isabella. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Philip I of Castile. He had two younger sisters, Maria and Joanna, and several paternal half-siblings, including Isabel of Castile, Margaret, Tadea, and John of Austria.The expression, "the empire on which the sun never sets," was coined during Philip's time to reflect the extent of his dominion.Filipe II main project was the Palace of Escorial outside Madrid completed in a remarkable 22 years. His other project was the encirclement of France. He married Mary Tudor at Winchester cathedral in 1554.  He was thought of as King of England everywhere except England where he was royal consort. Catholic Queen Mary suddenly died childless and Philip was unsuccessful in wooing Protestant Elizabeth I. Philip turned Spanish foreign policy around by marrying 14 year old Elizabeth Valois daughter of the King of France.During Filipe II reign the Spanish Inquisition was at its height. Its original mission was to root our suspected false converts to the Catholic faith and with the reformation it had much work to do.  Filipe moved Spain's capital from Toledo to a village called Madrid so that he could remodel it to his liking.King Philip II was nothing if not devout, an austere and joyless man who in the 16th Century built what is surely one of the most somber religious structures in all of Christendom, the majestic yet severe monastery-palace-pantheon that has put this village on the map.Philip was both military hero and spendthrift monarch, gaining control of the Mediterranean and the crown of Portugal, but emptying Spain’s coffers with endless wars, the ill-fated Spanish Armada and such prodigal projects as the monastery.Yet his legacy cannot be bypassed by anyone seriously interested in the history and beauty of Spain--a bountiful trove of the world’s finest paintings, priceless furnishings and tapestries, a magnificent library and the marble tombs of Spanish rulers for almost five centuries.El Escorial, a pretty place 35 miles northwest of Madrid in the foothills of the Guadarrama Mountains, is usually relegated to a day trip from the capital. But it comes into its own after tour buses have left and villagers relax at a cafe during the early evening. This delightful town seems held together by numerous tiny plazas.He spent his childhood with his mother at the royal court in Castile. One of her Portuguese ladies, Dona Leonor de Mascarenhas, helped her in rearing him. He forged life-long close relationships with his two pages, Rui Gomes da Silva and Luis de Requesens.The Spanish culture and court life deeply influenced him. He learned Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin, and demonstrated moderate propensity in arms and letters alike. He enjoyed hunting as a sport and was fond of music. He studied under Juan Martínez Siliceo, the future Archbishop of Toledo and humanist Juan Cristóbal Calvete de Estrella. Classical works were translated into Spanish with his patronage.After his mother’s death due to a miscarriage, his often-absentee father took an active interest in his upbringing. He received a thorough political education from Charles, who was impressed by his diligence and seriousness. His martial training was overseen by his governor, the commendador mayor of Castile Juan de Zúñiga. He received the practical lessons of warfare from Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the general Duke of Alba during the Italian Wars (1542-46).Philip, being the nephew of Christine of Denmark, the widow of the previous Duke Francesco II Sforza, was made the Duke of Milan on October 11, 1540. Three years later, satisfied by his son’s acumen in statesmanship, Charles handed him the regency of Spain. Philip had some of his father’s best advisors to help him govern, such as de Toledo and secretary Francisco de los Cobos. He also had written instructions from his father to rule with "piety, patience, modesty, and distrust.The Spanish culture and court life deeply influenced him. He learned Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin, and demonstrated moderate propensity in arms and letters alike. He enjoyed hunting as a sport and was fond of music. He studied under Juan Martínez Siliceo, the future Archbishop of Toledo and humanist Juan Cristóbal Calvete de Estrella. Classical works were translated into Spanish with his patronage.After his mother’s death due to a miscarriage, his often-absentee father took an active interest in his upbringing. He received a thorough political education from Charles, who was impressed by his diligence and seriousness. His martial training was overseen by his governor, the commendador mayor of Castile Juan de Zúñiga. He received the practical lessons of warfare from Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, the general Duke of Alba during the Italian Wars (1542-46).Philip was born 21 May 1527. When he was sixteen years old, Philip married Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal. Maria was Philip’s paternal first cousin. Maria Manuela was one of ten children, but only she, her brother Prince João Manuel, and half-brother Duarte survived to adulthood. Maria’s father outlived all his children. Maria was about five months younger than Philip, as she was born 15 October 1527. The cousins were married on 12 November 1543, their dynastic marriage between the Prince of Asturias and Infanta of Portugal being one of the most opulent weddings in Spanish history. Within about a year, Maria became pregnant with the couple’s son. Sadly, she died on 12 July 1545 due to complications of her son Don Carlos’ birth.Philip next married Mary I of England, a woman who was eleven years his senior and his first cousin, once removed. As mentioned above, Philip was the great nephew of Mary’s mother, Katharine of Aragon. Katharine’s sister Juana of Castile was Philip’s grandmother. Mary I had been betrothed at a young age to Philip’s father, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Charles abandoned those plans due to the age gap between he and his cousin Mary, and instead married Philip’s mother. After a couple claims of pregnancy and no forthcoming heir, Mary I died in November 1558, leaving Philip a widower for the second time.After the death of Mary I, Philip married Elisabeth of Valois as a result of terms negotiated in the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis. Originally betrothed to Philip’s son Don Carlos*, Elisabeth was the daughter of Catherine de Medici and Henry II of France. Elisabeth’s marriage to Philip helped solidify the peace between France and Spain, bringing an end to the Habsburg-Valois wars. This series of wars extended from 1494 to 1559 as a dispute between the two families over who had the hereditary claim to the Duchy of Milan, amongst other territories. Elisabeth and Philip were married by proxy at Notre Dame cathedral in Paris during the summer of 1559 when she was 14 and Philip 32. The young woman was twenty-eight years younger than Mary I of England, Philip’s second wife. Elisabeth was known to represent her husband at diplomatic meetings, such as that held in Bayonne in 1565 to discuss tensions over France’s Protestant population. Elisabeth endured four pregnancies, only two of which resulted in successful births. Her first pregnancy, with twin girls, ended in a miscarriage in 1564. Next. Elisabeth gave birth to her daughter the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain in 1566. Her next daughter, Catherine Michelle of Spain, was born in 1567. Elisabeth died in October 1568, shortly after miscarrying another daughter.Finally, Philip married his niece, Anna of Austria. Anna was born in November 1549, making her husband a full twenty-two years her elder. Anna’s father was the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Anna was betrothed to Philip in 1569 and the two were married by proxy in 1570. Elizabeth I of England, Philip’s former sister-in-law, allowed Anna to safely pass through English waters on her way from Austria through the Netherlands down to Spain. She and her new husband shared similar personalities and got along famously. Much to Philip’s delight, the first four of his five children with Anna were boys. Sadly, only one survived to adulthood. He became Philip III of Spain.Philip’s series of marriages and hoped-for heirs shows that it was not just Henry VIII of England who was concerned over having an heir or concerned about making an appropriate dynastic match. This also shows how, even in the mid-sixteenth century, the Habsburg family’s gene pool was already becoming quite restricted. Three of Philip’s four wives were closely related to him. Charles II of Spain, the great-grandson of Philip and his last wife Anna, would be the last direct male descendant of Philip’s to occupy the throne of Spain.

Philip II married four times and was four times a widower. The son of his first wife, Maria of Portugal, died in prison in 1568. His second wife, Mary I of England, bore him no children. His third wife, Elizabeth of Valois, bore him two daughters.Elizabeth de Valois (called Isabel in Spain) was born on April 2, 1545 at the royal palace of Fontainebleau. She was the second child of King Henri II, then Duc d’Orléans and his wife Catherine de’Medici. She was born during the reign of her grandfather King François I. There was a magnificent baptismal ceremony for Elizabeth at Fontainebleau.

King Philip II of Spain banqueting with his family and courtiers.Philip’s father retired in January of 1556 and divided his empire.  The central European Habsburg domains came under the patrimony of his brother Ferdinand and the Spanish domains were turned over to Philip to rule.  Charles V had engaged in war with France starting in 1552.  Philip renewed these hostilities and was eager to bring England into the fray.

king PHILIP  III of spain

Philip III was born in Madrid on April 4, 1578 to King Philip II of Spain and his fourth wife and niece Anna, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II and Maria of Spain. Philip III later married his cousin Margaret of Austria, sister of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor.Philip III was  the son of King Philip II, whom he succeeded in 1598, when he was 20 years old. From the outset of his reign he virtually gave over the government to Francisco de Lerma, his favorite, who was the true ruler of Spain for the next 2 decades. Philip's inheritance included the crises and dilemmas that had wracked Spain during the previous half century. During the first 2 years of his reign, the country was ravaged by a plague that probably wiped out the 15-percent increase in the Spanish population in the 16th century. Although projects of a reforming nature, including plans to restructure the tax system, were submitted to the King and his ministers, regional traditionalism and vested interests blocked change.In 1607 the Crown was forced to repudiate its debts. The drain of funds caused by the Dutch War and the futility of pursuing the struggle in the Netherlands led to a 12-year truce in 1609. In effect, it indicated Spain's failure to subdue its rebellious subjects in the Netherlands. To camouflage this failure, news of the truce was accompanied by a popular measure, the expulsion of the Moriscos (Moors converted to Christianity). They were looked upon with suspicion as potential allies of Spain's enemies and with resentment as hardworking people who saved most of their money. Stringent measures against them had been taken earlier under Philip II. Now about 275, 000 Moriscos were expelled; most went to North Africa. Spain suffered economic loss, especially in Aragon and Valencia, though not as much as following the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.Philip III inherited a disastrous economy from his father, Philip II. Spain was essentially a bankrupt nation by 1598.The decline of Spain was not sudden. Philip II had seriously drained Spain’s resources and Philip III had inherited his father’s legacy. The fear of such bodies such as the Inquisition had dwindled as intellectuals openly discussed Spain’s plight and analysed the reasons for this. It was stated in the open that the Spain of the C17th was not as strong as the Spain in the C16th. These intellectuals suggested reforms : public spending had to be cut and people had to be left with more money to spend to stimulate the economy in terms of production. The desired for increased wealth would also create more social stability.Economically, Spain was on a short fuse. Her wealth was based on her trade with the Americas – especially the silver mines of Latin America. However, her presence in the region was now being challenged by other European states (especially the United Provinces) and the region itself was moving towards ‘independence’. Peru and Mexico were witnessing a growth in their economies and needed products which Spain could not provide. Not unnaturally, both countries looked elsewhere for trade. These regions also realised that the vast fortunes generated in their own countries was being lost and that they could better use that wealth if it stayed in their own country. This attitude fuelled the ‘independence’ movement and lead to a large decrease in the silver bullion that was reaching Spain.

Philip married his cousin, Margaret of Austria, on 18 April 1599, a year after becoming king. Margaret, the sister of the future Emperor Ferdinand II, would be one of three women at Philip's court who would apply considerable influence over the king.Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain (1584–1611)Margaret of Austria (1584–1611), of the Habsburg family, became Queen consort of Spain & Portugal by her marriage to King Philip III, of the Habsburg family. Margaret was the daughter of Archduke Charles II of Austria, the son of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I & Maria Anna of Bavaria.

For many, the decline of Spain can be dated to the economic difficulties that set in during the early years of his reign. Nonetheless, as the ruler of the Spanish Empire at its height and as the king who achieved a temporary peace with the Dutch (1609-1621) and brought Spain into the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) through an (initially) extremely successful campaign, Philip's reign remains a critical period in Spanish history.In 1598, 2 million ducats a year was entering Spain. By 1618, only 800,000 ducats entered Spain. It did increase to 1 million and stayed at that level but a 50% decline in this form of revenue was a severe blow to Spain. However, this revenue had not been ‘spent’ by the time it arrived in Spain – this was the only part of Philip’s revenue not to have been spent. It was used to finance a foreign policy. By 1618 – the start of the Thirty Years War – Spain’s impact on European policy was limited and her involvement in the war as a whole was not that expected from a great power.Spain’s internal economy was weak. There was little industry and agriculture was stifled with backwardness. Estates were vast and worked by peasants who had been ruined by taxation. Their willingness to work for others had been severely limited. Agricultural development was stunted. The failure to use such basic reforms as irrigation – first seen in the reign of Philip II – continued after 1598.Castille also suffered during the reign of Philip III. There had been a huge population drift from the rural areas to the towns and cities. Peasants and small holders lost about 50% of their income to various taxes. The rest was not enough to live off of and many small holders sold off their land to the large estate owners and moved to the towns and cities. Food was grown haphazardly on these estates and the towns and cities were not well supplied with food. Disease and cramped living conditions weakened those who lived in urban areas and in 1599, the bubonic plague hit Castille. About 500,000 died. Only a major change in government policy could help Spain. This had to be a policy of making the rich pay their fair share of taxation. As Philip III let the rich grandees govern for him, it was highly unlikely that this would ever happen.hey were the last people who would make sacrifices for Spain.The development of large estates was not necessarily a bad thing for Spain – but this proved to be the case. The owners were more concerned with prestige and did little to develop their land which would have been of benefit to the towns and cities. Improving yields was not a high priority and landlords spent much time at the court of Philip III enjoying life, hunting and finding government posts. The nobility paid no tax. About 10% of Spain’s population claimed to be noble. The Catholic Church also paid no tax and by 1660 there were about 200,000 clerics and the Church owned 20% of all land. How active Philip III’s foreign policy was depended on how much silver he had to spend. When there appeared to be plenty, he could be aggressive. If there was little, he had to rely on diplomacy as opposed to war. However, the court in Madrid was frequently filled with those who wanted an aggressive foreign policy and Philip was usually persuaded.The time limit on the truce with the Dutch symbolized the expectancy throughout Europe that war would again break out, and not only in the Netherlands. Spain entered the Thirty Years War, which began in Bohemia in 1618, but its early successes were short-lived, and Spain's participation in the war contributed still more to its overall decline.Lerma was overthrown in 1618 and succeeded by the Duke of Uceda. Meanwhile, Philip engaged in devotional exercises or whiled away his time hunting, enjoying the theater, and hosting lavish banquets, his role seemingly reduced to providing an heir to the throne. His marriage to Margaret of Austria produced eight children, one of whom succeeded him as Philip IV upon his death on March 31, 1621. His daughter Anne of Austria became the consort of Louis XIII of France.

The predominance of Holland was not unopposed within the ranks of the rebels. An internal conflict was going on between the wealthy class which dominated the towns, a class that was especially strong in Holland, and the lower middle class led by the Calvinist clergy. The latter group tended to see political events from a religious point of view, while the wealthy oligarchs, though they were also Protestants, felt that the church should be kept subordinate to the civil authority. Their overriding allegiance was to freedom rather than to religion, and they had no intention of trading Spanish tyranny for the tyranny of the Calvinist church. They therefore fought the persistent efforts of the church to dominate the state. The outcome of the struggle on the whole favored the oligarchy with its more secular outlook. Their victory was the victory of the province of Holland, which also provided the civil and military leaders who proved able successors of William of Orange. The civilian leader was Oldenbarnevelt; the general was Maurice of Nassau, one of William's sons, who was able to take the offensive even before the death of Parma.A further development of Dutch trade (using the term Dutch to refer to the northern provinces) came from Philip's efforts to damage it. When he forbade the use of Spanish and Portuguese harbors to the ships of the rebels, they retaliated by going directly to the sources of the trade. Soon their ships were to be found in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and the waters of the Far East. They increasingly encroached on the trade of the Portuguese Empire in the East, and the climax came in 1602 with the formation of the Dutch East India Company, destined to play an important role in the history of the country.Even after the death of Philip II in 1598 and the accession of Philip III, fighting continued, but the military situation had by this time reached a point of stalemate, and both sides were anxious to stop the fighting. Discussions toward this end were begun in 1606. Negotiations owed a great deal to the efforts of France and England, which served as mediators. A final peace settlement proved impossible for the time being, because the Spanish demanded that the Dutch give up their trade with the East, which they refused to do. The best that could be obtained was a truce, which was opposed by Maurice, who wanted nothing less than full Spanish recognition of Dutch independence. Finally, however, a truce was agreed to in 1609, for a twelve-year period.Although fighting was resumed at the end of the truce period and full recognition of the new nation did not come until 1648, by 1609 the Dutch republic, an independent state, had for all practical purposes been born. It was to play a dazzling part in history, and to be, especially in the seventeenth century, one of the great powers of Europe. In art and learning it was to make splendid contributions to civilization. It was to serve as a refuge for victims of religious intolerance elsewhere. It was to create a great colonial and commercial empire. It was to produce, in the person of the great-grandson of William of Orange, the leader of the forces of European freedom against the aggressions of Louis XIV. Many men contributed to this greatness, but none of it would have been possible without the selfless devotion and unconquerable courage of William the Silent. The history of his country is his monument.