Philip II of Spain
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Philip II of Spain (May 21, 1527 – September 13, 1598) was, starting in 1556, king of Spain, Italy and Burgundy, the Netherlands, Franche-Comté, Naples, and overseas Spanish America. He was born at Valladolid, and was the only son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his wife to live until he was adult. He was Catholic. His rule was filled with troubles that caused him to be harsh on his people and other nations.
[edit] Marriages and children
- He married his cousin (1543), Maria of Portugal. She gave him a son, Don Carlos of Spain (1545-1568). Maria died in 1545.
- He wanted to marry an English queen, so he married Catholic Queen Mary I of England in 1554. The marriage made him King Consort while she lived. Her people did not like the marriage, and Philip saw it only as a political move. On January 16, 1556, Philip became King of Spain when his father gave up the throne, but Philip chose to stay out of the country until his father died, two years later. Mary died in 1558 without children, so Philip originally desired to marry her half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England, who was Protestant. He did not marry her, for more than one reason. Philip believed his son, Don Carlos had planned his death, so he put Don Carlos in jail. The prince died soon after, so Philip's enemies said that he had ordered his son killed. Some evidence shows this, but it was too much eating and drinking that killed Don Carlos.
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