King Philip II of Spain (1527–1598) King Philip II ruled Spain during the peak of its golden age. He was the leader of the Catholic Reformation and worked tirelessly to battle Protestantism. “I do not propose or desire to be the ruler of heretics,” he wrote to one of his ambassadors. Philip loved books, and Spanish literature flourished during his reign. In the European wars against the Ottoman Turks, Philip had great success, especially at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. In 1578, Philip conquered Portugal. But Philip also had his failures. His cautious, methodical work habits slowed his government; the war against the rebellions in the Netherlands dragged on for years, and the defeat of his “invincible” armada during the Anglo-Spanish war was a loss of epic proportion.

1. Determining Importance Think about Philip’s successes and failures. Which one do you consider to be the most important?

2. Making Connections Philip II was the son of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. What effect might this have had on the way he ruled Spain?