Philip II of Spain

21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598

Philip II was King of Spain from 1556 until his death in 1598, and also ruled Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and the Spanish Netherlands at the height of Spanish power. His reign saw the victory over the Ottomans at Lepanto, the building of El Escorial, the Dutch Revolt, and the failed Spanish Armada against England in 1588. Under him the Spanish Empire reached its greatest global extent.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Philip II of Spain.

Life events

Born at Valladolid, Spain
21 May 1527

Philip was born in Valladolid, the son of Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Married Queen Mary I of England
25 July 1554

Philip married Mary Tudor at Winchester Cathedral, becoming jure uxoris King of England until her death in 1558.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became King of Spain upon his father's abdication
16 January 1556

Charles V abdicated the Spanish crowns, making Philip ruler of Spain and its worldwide empire.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Established Madrid as the seat of the Spanish court
1561

Philip moved his court to Madrid, effectively making it the capital of Spain.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relocation ✓
Built the Monastery of El Escorial
23 April 1563 – 1584

Philip commissioned and oversaw the construction of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, his palace-monastery and eventual burial place.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Outbreak of the Dutch Revolt
1568

The provinces of the Netherlands rose against Philip's rule, beginning the Eighty Years' War that would outlast his reign.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Holy League fleet defeated the Ottomans at Lepanto
7 October 1571

The naval coalition organized with Philip as a principal sponsor destroyed the Ottoman fleet at Lepanto, a landmark Christian victory in the Mediterranean.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Became King of Portugal, uniting the Iberian crowns
1580 – April 1581

Following the Portuguese succession crisis, Philip claimed and secured the Portuguese throne, being recognized as king by the Cortes of Tomar in 1581.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Launched the Spanish Armada against England
28 May 1588 – September 1588

Philip sent the great Armada to invade Elizabethan England, but the fleet was defeated and scattered with heavy losses.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Died at El Escorial
13 September 1598

Philip died after a long illness at the palace-monastery of El Escorial and was buried there.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓