King Philip II of Spain, also known as Philip the Prudent, ruled one of the world's largest empires. His reign as Spain's king began the Golden Age, a period of great cultural growth in literature, music and the visual arts. He was also the King of England through his marriage to Mary Tudor for four years. read more
Philip II (Spanish: Felipe II; 21 May 1527 – 13 September 1598), called "the Prudent" (el Prudente), was King of Spain (1556–98), King of Portugal (1581–98, as Philip I, Filipe I), King of Naples and Sicily (both from 1554), and jure uxoris King of England and Ireland (during his marriage to Queen Mary I from 1554–58). read more
Philip II King Philip II of Spain with three of his wives, Elizabeth of Valois (left), Anna of Austria, and Maria of Portugal (right), and his son, Don Carlos (behind), from Military and Religious Life in the Middle Ages by Paul Lacroix, c. 1880. read more