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?)

• 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

empire

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