Notes on the Spanish Empire (1516-1598) and Philip II

A Powerful Spanish Empire (1516-1598)

The Hapsburg Monarchy/Dynasty

  • The Hapsburg Monarchy was Europe's most powerful royal family during the Age of Absolutism.
  • The Hapsburg Empire included:
    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • The Holy Roman Empire (present-day Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and parts of Poland, France, and Italy)
    • The empire in the Americas created by the Conquistadors (present-day Mexico, Southwestern United States, all of Central and South America).
  • At one point, the Hapsburg Empire covered almost half of the known world.

Charles V (1516-1556)

  • The Hapsburg Empire reached its greatest size in 1516 under Charles V.
  • Charles V was the grandson of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain and the nephew of Henry VIII (King of England) with Catherine of Aragon.
  • Charles V was the cousin of Mary I of England ("Bloody" Mary), who would eventually marry Charles V's son, Philip II.
  • Charles V governed the Hapsburg lands effectively and gained international respect through his use of power and diplomacy.
  • During his reign, Spain was constantly at war and trying to create wealth to finance those wars.
  • In 1556, Charles V abdicated the throne because he believed the empire was too large to be ruled by one man.
  • He divided the empire between his brother Ferdinand II and his son Philip II:
    • Ferdinand II received Austria and most of the Holy Roman Empire.
    • Philip II received Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Milan & Naples, and the American Empire.

Phillip II (1556-1598)

  • Philip II, a devout Catholic, ascended to the Spanish throne in 1556 and ruled until his death in 1598.
  • He established an absolute monarchy in the Spanish Hapsburg Empire.
  • Philip II is remembered as a hardworking and devoted monarch who dedicated much of his time to government work.
  • He ruled with complete power over the government and the people.
  • Philip II's political agenda had five objectives:
    • Create wealth for himself and Spain.
    • Create a powerful Spanish military.
    • Expand Spain's borders and political influence.
    • Spread the Catholic religion throughout Europe.
    • Make Spain the most powerful country in Europe.

Spanish Wealth

  • During Philip II's reign, Spain experienced the "siglo de oro" (Golden Age) due to his devotion to art and literature.
  • He funded the construction of statues and sculptures and established academies of science and mathematics.
  • This was funded by the Spanish trading empire in the Americas, which included:
    • Precious metals
    • Tobacco
    • Cocoa
    • Indigo
    • Sugar
  • These materials were in high demand in other European countries, leading to economic growth for Spain.

Spanish Military

  • Philip II used Spain's wealth to build a powerful military, including the Spanish Armada.
  • The Spanish Armada consisted of 132 ships, 20,000 men, and 2,400 cannons.
  • The Spanish Armada's power was well-known and respected throughout Europe and the world.

Philip's Wars

  • Philip II waged many wars to expand the Spanish Empire.
  • At the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Spain defeated the Ottoman Empire's naval fleet.
  • Funding these wars strained the Spanish treasury due to the costs of:
    • Feeding and paying soldiers
    • Providing ammunition
    • Building and repairing weapons

Strengthening the Catholic Faith

  • Philip II aimed to rid Europe of Islam, Judaism, and Protestantism, and make the continent Catholic.
  • He fought a war against the Protestant faith, which was unsuccessful.
  • The war began in 1581 in the Netherlands and England.
  • Seventeen Dutch provinces united under William the Silent, Prince of Orange.
  • England became involved because Philip II's previous marriage to Queen Mary I of England (a Catholic known as "Bloody" Mary for burning Protestants) ended due to her death and inability to conceive.
  • Philip II tried to marry Queen Elizabeth I of England, Mary I's successor, but she rejected his proposal and secretly supported the Dutch.
  • When Elizabeth I openly supported the Dutch, Philip II declared war on England.

War with England

  • In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail to conquer England but was defeated by smaller and faster English ships.
  • Philip II did not live to see the end of the war, which concluded in 1609, 13 years after his death.
  • The war treaty granted the Netherlands independence from Spain, and both the Netherlands and England remained predominantly Protestant.

Philip II's Legacy

  • Early in his reign, Philip II seemed poised to achieve all five of his political objectives.
  • However, his wars, especially the war against Protestantism, drained Spain's wealth, led to the destruction of the Spanish Armada, and halted Spanish border expansion.
  • This prevented Spain from becoming the most powerful country in Europe.
  • Although Spain was already declining before Philip II's death, it never regained its former power and greatness after 1598.
  • England and France then competed for recognition as the most powerful country in the world.