The Children of Adam and Eve

He was a Habsburg king of Spain, who ruled the country at the height of
its power and influence and used that power in the service of the Roman
Catholic Church and the Counter Reformation. During his reign the
Philippine Islands (named for him) were conquered and colonies were
established in what is now the southern United States.

He was educated by Roman Catholic clergymen, whose influence shaped his
policies as king. Before succeeding to the throne of Spain upon his
father's abdication in 1556, Philip had alReady received the duchy of
Milan (1540), the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily (1554), and the
Netherlands (1555) from his father. With the throne of Spain he also
inherited extensive regions of the New World. Shortly after Philip's
accession, the Spanish forces were victorious over the French at the
Battles of Saint-Quentin (1557) and Gravelines (1558), and the 60-year war
with France was concluded by the Treaty of Cateau-Cambr?s (1559), which
was highly favorable to Spain. An outgrowth of the peace was Philip's
third marriage to Princess Elizabeth of France, who had been betrothed to
his son, Don Carlos.

In the Netherlands Philip banned Protestantism and severely restricted the
rights of the people. He used the Inquisition as a method of control, and
thousands of Protestants were killed or exiled. In 1567 the Protestants
revolted, and Philip sent an army to suppress them, thus beginning 80
years of war by which the northern provinces (now the Netherlands) won
their independence.

In Spain Philip's oppression of the Moriscos (Christianized Muslims)
provoked them to rebel in 1568; after suppressing the revolt in 1571,
Philip exiled almost the entire group to the great detriment of the
country. In 1571 Philip sent his half Brother John of Austria on a naval
expedition that destroyed the Ottoman navy at the Battle of Lepanto.
Asserting his claim to the throne of Portugal Philip conquered that
country in 1580.

His desire to return the English to Catholicism as well as to check their
rival maritime power, led Philip to the decision to invade England, and to
that end he ordered the construction of a great fleet. In 1588 he
dispatched the Armada to the British Isles, where it was destroyed by bad
weather and the English. From 1590 to 1598 Philip was again at war with
France, aiding the Catholic forces of the Holy League in its war against
the Huguenot Henry IV.

In 1563 Philip began the construction of El Escorial, a somber monastic
palace outside Madrid, which ranks among Europe's finest architectural
monuments. Completed in 1584, it became his second residence.