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Philip II (21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent (Spanish: Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598.
Jun 25, 2024 · Philip II, king of Spain (1556–98) and Portugal (1580–98) who was a champion of the Roman Catholic Counter-Reformation. During his reign the Spanish empire attained its greatest power, extent, and influence, though he lost the ‘Invincible Armada’ in the attempted invasion of England (1588).
6 days ago · Spain - Philip II: When Charles abdicated his various lands (1555–56), Philip II (1556–98) succeeded to all his father’s dominions except Germany. His empire in Europe, now without the imperial title, was still only a loose union of independent states recognizing the same head.
Apr 2, 2014 · King Philip II of Spain, also known as Philip the Prudent, ruled one of the world's largest empires. His reign as Spain's king began the Golden Age, a period of great cultural growth in...
Philip II is considered one of the greatest sovereigns in the History of Spain in terms of leading global exploration and colonial expansion across the Atlantic and the Pacific, and became for a time the foremost global power.
From 1559 he ruled from Spain, where he built the palace of El Escorial and encouraged Spain’s literary golden age. He was a champion of the Counter-Reformation but failed to put down rebellions in the Netherlands (from 1568) and to conquer England, suffering the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588).
In Central Europe the Austrian line of the dynasty, which had been assigned the role of junior partner to its powerful relatives, baulked at being dictated to by Spain. Here the influential Spanish ambassadors and envoys acted as instruments of Philip’s power.
