Section 3.

14

Philip II and the Counter Reformation

Questions to consider
Why could Philip II rightly regard himself as an
international figure? Why was Spain ideally suited to be
the instrument of Philips ambitions?
How would you describe and characterize the general
state of political and religious affairs in Europe in the
first years of Philips reign? What conflict existed
between religious and national loyalties?
How permanent were the triumphs of Philip and of the
Catholic cause in the years 1567 to 1572?
Explain the political, economic, and religious issues that
entered into the revolt of the Netherlands. How did the
revolt merge with the international political and religious
struggles in Europe?
How would you analyze the reasons for Spains
decline?

How did there come to be two Hapsburgs?

Charles V abdicated 1556
Moved to a monastery
Divided holdings between son and
brother
Ferdinand (bro)
Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and
HRE
Philip II (son)
Spain, New World, Spanish
Netherlands, Burgundy, Milan,
Naples, Tunis
Briefly king of Portugal and
England
Hapsburgs now divided between
Austrian and Spanish domains

Ferdinand I

Philip II

Note the
position of
France

Who was Philip II (1556-1598) and why was his rule

considered a Golden Age?
Fanatically Catholic
Grave, somber, dark, brooding man
ABOVE ALL ELSE, Committed to upholding
the universal Catholic Church above
Gave no thought to economic, material loss
33% of population in service of Church
(1600)
Ultimately this would lead to Spains decline
Ruled during Siglo de Oro (1550-1650)
The Century of Gold (Golden Age)
Cervantes-Don Quixote
El Greco WebMuseum: Greco, El
art represents a blend of passion and
restraint, religious fervor and NeoPlatonism, influenced by the mysticism of
the Counter-Reformation.

El Greco

The Escorial
A palace, monastery
and mausoleum
30 miles from Madrid
Bleak, arid plateau of
central Castile
Layout in form of grill
Honoring St. Lawrence
(roasted alive in 258
AD)
Coffins of father, dead
wives, children
relocated there
Lived in Spartan
fashion

What was the general state of political and

religious affairs in Europe in the first years of
Philips reign?

Catholic Offensive
1567 Philip sent Duke of Alva & 20
thousand soldiers to suppress
Netherlands
Brutally put down revolt of
Moriscos
Kept Turks at bay in
Mediterranean
Encouraged Catholics in England
to rebel against Elizabeth
Approved of St. Bartholomews
Day Massacre of Huguenots
None of these proved lasting

Fernando
Alvarez, Duke
of Alva (15671573

Revolt of the Netherlands

Germanic (Dutch) in North
Fishing industry, strong Protestant presence
French South
Comprised of 17 provinces (including Luxembourg)
Hatred of Philips rule unites regions
League of Nobles (200)
Petition Philip to keep Inquisition out
Philip refuses==revolts
Sends troops, Inquisition, Council of Troubles
Known as Council of Blood
Executed thousands, confiscated estates, taxed
population
William of Orange
A stadholder (soon to become hereditary title, was
a leader of provinces of Netherlands)
Known as The Silent
Mobilized anti-Spanish forces at sea
Encourages Danes, Scots, English, Dutch to
pirate Spanish ships

Involvement of England
Elizabeth quietly supports protestants in
Netherlands
Mary Queen of Scots
Great granddaughter of Henry VIII
Was queen of France (husband died),
Queen of Scotland (driven out by
Calvinists)
Imprisoned by Elizabeth (suspicious of
her intrigue)
Don Juans Plot (Babington Plot)
Was hero at battle of Lepanto (defeated
Turks)
Half brother to Philip
Wanted to conquer Nether, invaded England,
marry Mary, place her on throne, and rule
England as King
Died before his plot came to fruition
Mary beheaded
Letters supporting the plot discovered Reburied by her son, James I

Involvement of England Continued

Parma becomes new leader after
Don Juan in 1578
Promises liberties to moderates,
zealous Catholics tired of mob
violence
Northern provinces (led by
Holland and Zeeland) declare
independence under Union of
Utrecht in 1579 (renamed United
Provinces of Netherlands in 1581)
Parma moves against Antwerp
forces Elizabeth to openly side
with Holland
Philip prepares to invade

The Spanish Armada (1588)

Great armada or armada catolica

Fleet of mixed nationalities
plan was to sail to Netherlands and take
Parmas army to England
English met the Armada in the English
Channel with 200 ships

Sir Francis Drake

Stalwart and nimble English vessels out

maneuvered the Spanish galleons
Refuge in Calais was lost to fire ships
Protestant Winds from south to north
pushed the Spanish into unfamiliar
waters
Retreat around northern British Isles
was catastrophic
Complete victory for the English is
realized and the ascendancy of England
begins

Spanish Armada
and the
Protestant Wind

Sir Francis Drake

Results of the Struggle

Philip II died (of cancer) in 1598 a broken man

Englands national spirit is emerging under
Protestantism and set out to conqueror the seas
The Netherlands are divided north and south

North (7 provinces) becomes Protestant, tolerant,

close the Scheldt, and emerge as a rising
commercial force at sea and in banking

South (10 provinces) becomes Catholic, is in

ruins (40 yrs of war), and little help is forthcoming
from Spain
called Spanish Netherlands (Belgium today)
Spain is imploding, financial dependence on New
World wealth is becoming desperate, and leadership
was directed toward Catholic affairs rather than
Spains need
Final blow to Spain is the line of incompetent kings
that follow Philip