Texas Almanac, 1992-1993 Page: 599
656 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Philip II
Philip II was only 29 years old when in 1556 Charles V
abdicated. No sovereign was better prepared for the re-
sponsibility. From birth, Philip was trained to rule. For-
mal education was complemented with daily
discussions with his father on policy and government.
Beginning with Milan in 1540, the young heir apparent
assumed responsibility for parts of the empire. Next, he
was invested with the government of Naples and Sicily
in 1554, and the Netherlands in 1555, before becoming
King of Spain in 1556.
The new sovereign in 1554 married Mary Tudor, the
Roman Catholic queen of England. Spaniards and
Englishmen shared a mutual distrust, and Philip
learned to ingratiate himself with these foreigners.
Under Mary, the English Parliament rescinded all
anti-Catholic legislation, and she brutally crushed seve-
ral abortive anti-Catholic uprisings. Philip, through this
turmoil, counseled caution and moderation.
During his term at the English court, Philip became
friendly with Elizabeth Tudor, a Protestant, who be-
came queen on the death of Mary, her stepsister, in
1558. He later proposed to Elizabeth, but received no an-
swer. So he married Isabel of Portugal.
France went to war with Spain when Philip took the
throne. Surrounded by Spanish territory, the French
feared the ambitions of the Spanish crown. But Philip
inherited big financial problems. And in 1557, Spain de-
clared virtual bankruptcy, causing a major financial
panic. Government bonds, issued in lieu of silver pay-
ments, quickly depreciated in value. Lenders also
raised interest rates on future loans, aggravating the
problem. Despite defeating France on the battlefield,
Philip had to agree to the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
in 1559 when his money ran out.Europe in the 16th century was r
clique of families led by the Habst
trolled Spain and the Holy Roman Err
father, Charles V of Flanders (and Ch
was the first Habsburg to hold the
The closeness of the leadership mad
familiar with their adversaries.
Philip II, as the pivotal figure in th
16th century, had many former friend
There was William of Orange, leade
tant resistance in the Netherlands. \
Lutheran, converted to Catholicism
of Charles V. The future rebel was a
court and a close friend of Philip durir
William rejoined the Protestants
volted against Charles and was a cor
until Philip II, on the sixth attempt,
nated in 1584.
Queen Elizabeth of England wa
mold. She and Philip II were friend
married to her half sister, Mary I of E
was king of England. When Elizabet
gained the throne upon Mary's early
proposed marriage. When Elizabeth
sponse, the Spanish king turned to
Each respected the other during thei
their relationship was marked by mut
In 1585, events came to a head. The
therlands drained Spanish men and r
Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
tician and a great military tactician,
began to regain territory from insure
beth, who had been providing minor
sent 5,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 cav
ert, Earl of Leicester, one of her top a
itary leaders, to aid the Protestant reb
Additionally, Francis Drake and of
dogs raided the Spanish Main with ali
diverting silver from the New World c
finance Spain's European enterprises.
Capping the series of events, ElizE
the Catholic, Mary, Queen of Scots,Philip has been pictured as a cold, calculating,
mindlessly ambitious king, intent on expanding the
Spanish empire and his personal power by any method
necessary. Critics harp on the inefficiency of the coloni-
al system, and interminable delays in the decision-mak-
ing process.
Much of Philip's energy was devoted to financing
government. When he took office in 1556, all the coun-
try's revenues through 1561 had been pledged. In the
1570s, when he was fighting the Dutch and the Ottoman
Empire on two fronts, he was spending double the aver-
age income. Few will blame Philip for showing interest
in attempts by an alchemist to turn base metals into
gold or silver.
Hopes rose that Spain's mineral wealth, legendary
in prehistoric and Roman times, might solve the money
problem. Silver was discovered at Guadalcanal, north
of Seville, in 1555. But the deposit played out far too
soon to help the hard-pressed sovereign.
Practically every revenue-generating device known
to government of the day was tried. Government offices
were sold to the highest bidder, with an unspoken un-
derstanding that officials were to skim a little cream
from the top of revenues. Religious offices also were
marketed, as were titles of nobility.
The bloom also faded from the Spanish economy,
which prospered during the reign of Charles V. But sev-
eral policy mistakes haunted the realm. Social status,
honor and purity of blood became paramount values in
Spanish society. No taint of Jewish or Muslim ancestors
could be tolerated, although many distinguished Span-
ish families had just that background, thanks to the
forced religious conversions of the previous two
centuries. Commerce and manual labor were not
considered proper enterprises for ambitiousThe Armadas
uled by a small next in line for the English throne in event of Eliza-
burgs who con- beth's death, to death after imprisoning her for many
empire. Philip Ii's years. Mary was tried for her role in a plot to kill Eliz-
arles I of Spain) abeth. In her will of 1577, Mary gave Philip II her
Spanish throne. rights to the English throne.
le many figures Based on these provocations, Philip II acted. In
1585, the Marquis de Santa Cruz suggested attacking
ie last half of the England with a huge armada of 500 ships. Parma, who
is opposing him. commanded the finest fighting force in Europe at the
r of the Protes- time, proposed invading England across the English
William, born a Channel from the Netherlands. Spain's finances at the
at the insistence time ruled out either plan.
member of the As Elizabeth became bolder, Philip II resurrected
ng their youth. the plans into a single operation on a reduced scale.
Santa Cruz would assemble the armada, while Parma
when they re- prepared troops and transportation for the invasion.
ntinual problem As conceived by Philip II, the two forces would ren-
had him assassi- dezvous somewhere in the channel, the armada would
protect the troop crossing, and Catholics in England
as of the same would joyously revolt against their Protestant queen.
is while he was In 1586, Santa Cruz and Parma began preparations
England, and he to put the plan into action. Logistics were forbidding.
h, a Protestant, At no time in history had a nation attempted to as-
death, Philip II semble such a group of ships, outfit it with food and
h delayed a re- weapons, and coordinate its movements. Santa Cruz
another bride, faced serious provisioning problems and several
r reigns, though times postponed the departure of the armada. Ships
ual animosity. were drawn from across the Spanish empire and from
e fight in the Ne- other sources. Mediterranean ships, usually of shal-
esources. Under lower draft and more lightly built than the ocean-far-
, a subtle poll- ing ships of the Atlantic fleet, were pressed into
Spanish forces service.
gents. But Eliza- Philip II had annexed Portugal in 1581, and, with
)r financial aid, Portugal's navy added to his own, had an impressive
airy under Rob- fleet at his disposal. Santa Cruz initially wanted 500
dvisers and mil- ships, but had to settle for less than one-third of that
)els. number. As 1588 opened, Philip II was anxious for the
armada to take to the sea. In February, Santa Cruz
their English sea died. Don Alonso Perez, the Duke of Medina Sidonia,
arming success, was chosen as his replacement. After an impassioned
olonies slated to protest of his inability to direct an operation of such
magnitude, Medina Sidonia accepted. He was one ofabeth sentenced
her cousin andContinued on Next Page
599
SPANISH HISTORY
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Kingston, Mike. Texas Almanac, 1992-1993, book, 1991; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth279642/m1/603/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.