Philip II of Spain, known as "the Prudent," was born in Valladolid on May 21, 1527, the son of Emperor Charles V and Isabella of Portugal. He was groomed for government from a young age, assuming political and diplomatic responsibilities under his father's tutelage. In 1556, following the abdication of Charles V, Philip II ascended the throne and ruled until his death in 1598, becoming the most powerful monarch of his time.
During his reign, Philip II consolidated and expanded a vast empire on which "the sun never set," encompassing territories in Europe (Castile, Aragon, Navarre, the Netherlands, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, Milan, among others), the Americas, Africa, and Asia, including the Philippines, named in his honor. He was also king consort of England and Ireland through his marriage to Mary Tudor.
His foreign policy was marked by conflicts with France, the Ottoman Empire (most notably the victory at Lepanto in 1571), the rebellion of the Netherlands, and rivalry with England, culminating in the failure of the Spanish Armada in 1588. He incorporated Portugal and its overseas empire in 1580–1581, further expanding his dominion.
Philip II moved the capital of the monarchy to Madrid in 1561 and promoted the construction of the Monastery of El Escorial, where he died on September 13, 1598. His government was characterized by administrative centralization, the defense of Catholic orthodoxy (implementing the reforms of the Council of Trent and suppressing Protestant centers and the rebellion of the Moriscos), as well as by intense bureaucratic activity and the modernization of the State.
In the cultural sphere, he was a patron of the arts and sciences, and figures such as Saint Teresa of Jesus and Saint John of the Cross flourished under his reign. However, his reign was also marked by financial crises, internal unrest, and the so-called "Black Legend," an anti-Spanish propaganda campaign that exaggerated negative aspects of his rule.
Philip II died at the age of 71 in El Escorial, leaving a legacy of maximum splendor and complexity for the Spanish monarchy.
