PHILIP II., King of Spain, the only son of the emperor Charles V. (q.v.) and Isabella of Portugal, was b. at Valladolid, May 21, 1527. lie was brought up in Spain, and carefully educated under the superintendence of able tutors, by whose instructions he greatly profited, becoming an accomplished linguist and mathematician, and a con: noisseur in architecture and the fine arts. But all attempts to indoctrinate him with the chivalric ideas of the dine were utterly futile. From his very childhood he was dis trustful and reserved; he invariably spoke wira slowness and an air of deep reflection which was too marked to be wholly real, and exhibited in his manners a which even in his early year; was rarely disturbed by ebullitions of passion. While still very young he was intrusted, under the direction of a council, with the government of Spain, and in 1513 Inc espoused Mary of Portugal, who died three years after. In 1548 he went to join his father at Brussels, and there adopted the multitudinous equipage and minute and pompous etiquette of the late Burgundian court, which from this time he retained. While at Brussels, Philip was presented to his future subjects, and was at the same time fully initiated into his father's policy, the Iwo chief items of which were the maintenance and extension of absolute rule throughout his dominions, and the sup port and propagation of the Catholic religion. In 155.1 he married Mary Tudor, queen of England, and to gain the support of that country to his political projects, and at the same time restore it to the Homan Catholic pale, he laid • aside his ordinarily cold and haughty demeanor, and labored to ingratiate himself with his wife's subjects, taking the utmost care to avoid exciting the national jealousy of foreign influence. But his plans were discovered and frustrated, and this disappointment, combined with the annoyance to which he was subjected by the jealousy of his wife, prompted him to leave England (which he did forever), and return to Brussels (Sept., 1555). In the fol lowing month he became, by the abdication of his father, the most powerful potentate of Europe, having under his sway, Spain, the two Sicilies, the Milanese, the Low Coun tries, Franche Comte, Mexico, and Peru; his European territories fertile, and their inhabitants more wealthy and prosperous than any others on the continent, while his army was the best disciplined, and headed by the greatest generals of the age. The treasury alone was deficient, having been drained by the enormous expenditure of his father's wars. Philip was eager to begin the crusade in. favor of Catholicism, but lie was compelled to postpone it, owing to a league which had been formed between France, the pope, and the sultan, to deprive of his Italian dominions. Ile soon got over his religious scruples at engaging in warfare with the pope, and intrusted the defense of the Sicilies to Alva (q.v.), who speedily drove out the pope and the French, and conquered the papal territories, while Philip himself vigorously prosecuted the war against France in the n., and defeated the French at St. Quentin (q.v.) Aug. 10, 1557) and Gravelines (.Tuly 13, 1558). These reverses forced the French (the pope having already made a separate treaty) to agree to terms of peace at Chateau-Cambresis (April 2, 1559.) Philip's wife was now dead, and after an unsuccessful attempt to obtain the hand of her succes sor, queen Elizabeth, he espoused Isabella of France, and returned to Spain, where from this time lie always resided. Before leaving the LoW Countries, he solemnly promised to withdraw almost the whole of his Spanish troops who preyed upon the peaceful Flemings, but he firmly refused to annul or modify the rigorous edicts of his father against heretics. His realm being now at peace, he resolved, as a necessary preliminary to the carrying out of his great proselytizing scheme, to replenish his treasury, a thing impossible without forced contributions, which, at that time, could only be obtained in those countries over which he held absolute rule—viz., Spain and America. He there
fore set about establishing absolute government in those of his states that were in pos session of something like free institutions, and with this view sought to introduce the inquisition into the Low Countries and Italy. But the introduction of this instrument of tyranny was successfully resisted in Naples and the Milanese; in Sicily its powers were so shackled as to render it quite a harmless institution; but these failures only stimulated hint the more to establish it in all its pride and power in the Low Countries. For a num ber of years it continued in vigorous action in that country; but the natural result of such a course of conduct was a formidable rebellion of all classes, Catholic and Protest ant, which was partially successful—the northern portion (the "seven united prov inces") establishing its independence jn 1579. In this conflict the resources of Spain were largely expended, and to replenish his treasury in the speediest manner possible, Philip exacted enormous contributions from Spain, abolishing all special communal or provincial privileges and rights which might interfere with his actions, and suppressing all insurrection and discontent by force of arms of the inquisition. During the first half of his reign he engaged in a desultory warfare with the Barbary corsairs, who were supported by the Turks—the only memorable incident of which was the famous naval victory of Lepanto (q.v.), won Sept. 16, 1571. In 1580 the direct male line of Portugal having become extinct, Philip laid claim to the throne, and after the duke of Alva had occupied the kingdom with an army. the Spanish monarch's title was recognized by the Portuguese estates. His enmity to England on account of the anti-Spanish policy of queen Elizabeth incited hint to attempt the conquest of that country, but his most formid able attempt failed signally. See AinuAnA. After the accession of Catharine de Medicie to power, France and Spain drew closer the bonds of amity which had previouly sub sisted between the two countries; but the refusal of Catharine to adopt Philip's plans for the wholesale slaughter of heretics produced a coolness in their relations. However, when Henry, king of Navarre, a Huguenot, became heir-presumptive to the throne; Philip allied himself with the Guises and the other chiefs of the Catholic party who were in rebellion, and his obstinate persistence in these intrigues after the cause of the Guises was shown to be hopeless, prompted Henry to declare war against him. The Spaniards had the worst of it, and Philip was glad to conclude the treaty of Vervins May 2, 1598. He died in the Escurial at Madrid, on Sept. 13 of the same year. It can not be denied that Philip was gifted with great abilities, but he was also a visionary, especially in politics, and engaged in so many grand enterprises• at once as to overtask his resources without leading to any good or profitable result. No single kingdom in Europe could have stood against him, but he was always at war with at least two at a time; and even, the splendid opportunity which the extinction of the direct Capetian line in 15S9 gave him for uniting France, Spain, and Portugal in one great monarchy, could not restrain this unfortunate peculiarity. Ilis fanatical enthasiasm for Catholicism, in which lie was surpassed by no man who ever lived, and the zeal with which he perse. met] all heretics through the inquisition, combined with the odious tyranny of his secu lar government to degrade Spain, by breaking the proud and chivalrous spirit which had been the source of its pre-eminence among European nations, while his virulent perse cutions of the industrious Mo•iseoes, and his oppressive exactions, put a stop to the commerce of the country. By his fourth wife, Anne of Austria, lie had a son. Philip