v37_1004 - PAYS-BAS ESPAGNOLS - TOURNAI - PHILIPPE II D'ESPAGNE Écu des états 1579 Tournai

SPANISH NETHERLANDS - TOURNAI - PHILIP II OF SPAIN

(25/10/1555-13/09/1598)

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 supports the Counter-Reformation. He won the victory of Lepanto in 1571, died in 1598 and his son Philippe succeeded him.