fwo_833638 - SPAIN - KINGDOM OF SPAIN - PHILIP II 2 Reales 1596 Tolède

SPAIN - KINGDOM OF SPAIN - PHILIP II

(1555-1598)

Philip II (1527-1598) is the son of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. In 1555, he succeeded in the Spanish Netherlands to his father who abdicated in his favor in 1556, for Spain and America. He successively married Marie of Portugal (1527-1545), then his cousin Marie Tudor (1516-1558), Queen of England, in 1560 Elisabeth of France (1545-1568) and finally Anne of Austria (1549-1580). He fights against the France of Henri II, then of Henri IV. He supported the Counter-Reformation and won the victory of Lepanto in 1571. He died in 1598 and his son Philippe succeeded him.