PHILIP II. (I527-98). King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. He was born at Valladolid on May 21, 1527, the only son of the Emperor Charles V. (q.v.). Ms education was chiefly in the hands of the clergy and he grew up a cold and bigoted man. In 1543 he was married to Maria of Portugal, and upon her death he espoused in 1554 Mary I. of England (q.v.). In 1555 Charles V. surrendered the government of the Nether lands to Philip, and in the following year resigned also the crown of Spain to his son, who had been previously invested with the sovereignty of Na ples, Sicily, and Milan. The possession of Spain in the New World included the Vest Indies, Slex ieo, and a great part of South America. The early part of the reign of Philip proved very successful. He defeated a coalition formed against him by the Pope and France. his armies winning several battles, notably that of Saint Quentin (1557), and Francs was compelled to sign on April 2-3, 1559, the Treaty of Catean Cambresis (q.v.), which marked the abandonment of her ride as an aggressive power on the side of Italy. Philip determined to stamp out op position to Roman Catholicism in all his do minions, and this caused the revolt of the Nether lands (q.v.). This successful rebellion, and the enormous expenses it entailed upon Spain. ruined the prosperity of Philip's dominions. The naval supremacy of Spain. moreover, was shattered by the defeat of the Armada (q.v.), which Philip had sent against England in 1588. Besides the war against England. Philip was led by the af fairs in the Netherlands to interfere also in the concerns of France. He has been sometimes accused of having instigated the Massacre of Saint Bartholomew, and lie supported the Guises against Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV.). but all in vain. On May 2, 159S, the Treaty of Vervins (q.v.1 was concluded with France. Against the Turks Philip was more successful. They were decisively defeated in 1571 by his half-brother, John of Austria. commanding the
fleet of the Holy League (Spain, Venice, the Papal States), at Lepanto (q.v.). Portugal was conquered by Philip's general, the Duke of Alva (q.v.). after the direct male line of that country had become extinct in 1580. But these successes were unable to outweigh the ruin of Spanish commerce and industry. Philip died after a lingering illness on September 13. 1598. After the death of Mary of England in 1558. Philip married in 1559 Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry II. of France, and when she (lied in 565, he married Anna, a daughter of the Emperor Maximilian II. By his first wife Philip had a son, the celebrated Don Carlos (q.v.). and by his fourth wife, his successor. Philip Ill. (q.v.1. Philip H.'s character has been the subject of considerable historical controversy. There can be little doubt that he was bigoted and morose, but, on the other hand, the popular view, which represents him as a cruel 111011.3ter. is a false one. He seems to have been an idealist and a visionary, who believed firmly that he was benefiting hu manity by his drastic, measures. Ile was often open to appeals for merry and leniency, hut the Inquisition was permitted a free sway in Spain, and all liberty was crushed.
Consult: Prescott, History of the Reign of Philip 11_ King of i+pli in. (Boston, 185556), whieh is valuable, but ineomplete: Forneron, Histoire de Philippe II. ( Paris, 18S1.82) ; Philippson, int Zritalt? -r run Philipp II., Elisabeth and Heinrich IF. (Berlin, 1882) ; Mignet, Antonio Pert.: it Philippe IL (Paris, 1874) Lobkowitz. Philipp/is Prudtns (Antwerp, 1639) ; Cachard, Correspondanec de Philippe II. sur less a trairts des Pays-Has (5 vols., Brussels, 1848-791 ; id., Lettres de Philippe fi sex /Hits less Infnntes Isabelle et Catherine (Park, 18841; id., Correspondencia rue Pelipe II. con sus enzba jodores en la code Jr I nylotcrru, 155.5-8.'i (4 viols., Madrid, 1888). See SPAIN.