ABSTRACT
Philip was born in Valladolid, Spain, in 1527. His father was the illustrious Habsburg emperor Charles V, who ruled Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, parts of Italy, and Spanish America. With the exception of Germany, Philip inherited these territories when Charles retired in 1556. As Italy was claimed by the Valois king Henry II of France also, Philip found himself at war almost immediately. Philip's military experiences in northern Europe were less successful. In 1566 Protestants went on a rampage in the Netherlands, destroying all of the Roman Catholic churches they found. Philip, deeply committed to Catholicism, sent an army under the ruthless duke of Alva to suppress the disorders. The Spanish infantry was almost invincible, and though the armada of 1588 had been destroyed, Spanish naval power soon recovered. Philip's military commitments placed enormous burdens upon the state treasury, however.
