Philip II Spain

Philip II Spain

Philip II of Spain—ruler of the most extensive empire the world had ever known—has been viewed in a harsh and negative light since his death in 1598. Identified with repression, bigotry, and fanaticism by his enemies, he has been judged more by the political events of his reign than by his person. This book, published four hundred years after Philip's death, is the first full-scale biography of the king. Placing him within the social, cultural, religious, and regional context of his times, it presents a startling new picture of his character and reign.Drawing on Philip's unpublished correspondence and on many other archival sources, Henry Kamen reveals much about Philip the youth, the man, the husband, the father, the frequently troubled Christian, and the king. Kamen finds that Philip was a cosmopolitan prince whose extensive experience of northern europe broadened his cultural imagination and tastes, whose staunchly conservative ideas were far from being illiberal and fanatical, whose religious attitudes led him to accept a practical coexistence with Protestants and Jews, and whose support for Las Casas and other defenders of the Indians in America helped determine government policy. Shedding completely new light on most aspects of Philip's private life and, in consequence, on his public actions, the book is the definitive portrayal of Philip II. There were many people in the Renaissance time period that helped change the world, whether it was art, music or inventions. Philip II was one of those people. The Renaissance was in the 16th century when there was a revolution of culture. Many people participated, and those people were called patrons of the arts. New advances where made in all areas of art. These included perspective, 3D, and oil painting. Architecture was also huge back then, and a great example is the Sistine Chapel. Philip II was a Renaissance man because he loved nature, books and art, he excelled in all areas of study, and he was also a great ruler.

Philip II was born on May 21st, 1521, in Valladoid, Spain. He was the son of Charles V, who he would later take over the throne from. Charles was of Hapsburg descent. While growing up, Philip was an adventurous child. He started hunting at the age of ten, and he even learned to play the guitar. (Henry Kamen, 4) At the age of fourteen, Philip was pronounced the Prince of Spain. Charles arranged Philip's first two marriages.

Philip's first son that he had was named Don Carlos. Don Carlos had some sort of problem; he was mentally unstable, and therefore Philip could not let him rule after him. Philip then married two more times, all of his wives dying early. His wives were all heiresses of different countries. These different countries were Portugal, england, France, and Austria. His last wife that he had gave Philip his second son, who was named Philip III. He would later take over his father's throne. He had 5 sons, which only two of them had survived ...