Philip II and the Counter Reformation

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Section 3.14

• Philip II and the Counter Reformation

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Questions to consider

• Why could Philip II rightly regard himself as an
  international figure? Why was Spain ideally
  suited to be the instrument of Philips
  ambitions?
• How would you describe and characterize the
  general state of political and religious affairs
  in Europe in the first years of Philips reign?
  What conflict existed between religious and
  national loyalties?
• How permanent were the triumphs of Philip and of
  the Catholic cause in the years 1567 to 1572?
• Explain the political, economic, and religious
  issues that entered into the revolt of the
  Netherlands. How did the revolt merge with the
  international political and religious struggles
  in Europe?
• How would you analyze the reasons for Spains
  decline?

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How did there come to be two Hapsburgs?

• Charles V abdicated 1556
• Moved to a monastery
• Divided holdings between son and brother
• Ferdinand (bro)
• Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and HRE
• Philip II (son)
• Spain, New World, Spanish Netherlands, Burgundy,
  Milan, Naples, Tunis
• Briefly king of Portugal and England
• Hapsburgs now divided between Austrian and
  Spanish domains

Ferdinand I
Philip II
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Note the position of France
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Who was Philip II (1556-1598) and why was his
rule considered a Golden Age?

• Fanatically Catholic
• Grave, somber, dark, brooding man
• ABOVE ALL ELSE, Committed to upholding the
  universal Catholic Church above
• Gave no thought to economic, material loss
• 33 of population in service of Church (1600)
• Ultimately this would lead to Spains decline
• Ruled during Siglo de Oro (1550-1650)
• The Century of Gold (Golden Age)
• Cervantes-Don Quixote
• El Greco WebMuseum Greco, El
• art represents a blend of passion and restraint,
  religious fervor and Neo-Platonism, influenced by
  the mysticism of the Counter-Reformation.

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El Greco
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The Escorial

• A palace, monastery and mausoleum
• 30 miles from Madrid
• Bleak, arid plateau of central Castile
• Layout in form of grill
• Honoring St. Lawrence (roasted alive in 258 AD)
• Coffins of father, dead wives, children relocated
  there
• Lived in Spartan fashion

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What was the general state of political and
religious affairs in Europe in the first years of
Philips reign?

• Catholic Offensive
• 1567 Philip sent Duke of Alva 20 thousand
  soldiers to suppress Netherlands
• Brutally put down revolt of Moriscos
• Kept Turks at bay in Mediterranean
• Encouraged Catholics in England to rebel against
  Elizabeth
• Approved of St. Bartholomews Day Massacre of
  Huguenots
• None of these proved lasting

Fernando Alvarez, Duke of Alva (1567-1573
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Revolt of the Netherlands

• Germanic (Dutch) in North
• Fishing industry, strong Protestant presence
• French South
• Comprised of 17 provinces (including Luxembourg)
• Hatred of Philips rule unites regions
• League of Nobles (200)
• Petition Philip to keep Inquisition out
• Philip refusesrevolts
• Sends troops, Inquisition, Council of Troubles
• Known as Council of Blood
• Executed thousands, confiscated estates, taxed
  population
• William of Orange
• A stadholder (soon to become hereditary title,
  was a leader of provinces of Netherlands)
• Known as The Silent
• Mobilized anti-Spanish forces at sea
• Encourages Danes, Scots, English, Dutch to pirate
  Spanish ships

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Involvement of England

• Elizabeth quietly supports protestants in
  Netherlands
• Mary Queen of Scots
• Great granddaughter of Henry VIII
• Was queen of France (husband died), Queen of
  Scotland (driven out by Calvinists)
• Imprisoned by Elizabeth (suspicious of her
  intrigue)
• Don Juans Plot (Babington Plot)
• Was hero at battle of Lepanto (defeated Turks)
• Half brother to Philip
• Wanted to conquer Nether, invaded England, marry
  Mary, place her on throne, and rule England as
  King
• Died before his plot came to fruition
• Mary beheaded
• Letters supporting the plot discovered

Reburied by her son, James I
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Involvement of England Continued

• Parma becomes new leader after Don Juan in 1578
• Promises liberties to moderates, zealous
  Catholics tired of mob violence
• Northern provinces (led by Holland and Zeeland)
  declare independence under Union of Utrecht in
  1579 (renamed United Provinces of Netherlands in
  1581)
• Parma moves against Antwerp forces Elizabeth to
  openly side with Holland
• Philip prepares to invade

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The Spanish Armada (1588)

• Great armada or armada catolica
• Fleet of mixed nationalities
• plan was to sail to Netherlands and take Parmas
  army to England
• English met the Armada in the English Channel
  with 200 ships
• Sir Francis Drake
• Stalwart and nimble English vessels out
  maneuvered the Spanish galleons
• Refuge in Calais was lost to fire ships
• Protestant Winds from south to north pushed the
  Spanish into unfamiliar waters
• Retreat around northern British Isles was
  catastrophic
• Complete victory for the English is realized and
  the ascendancy of England begins

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Spanish Armada and the Protestant Wind
Sir Francis Drake
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Results of the Struggle

• Philip II died (of cancer) in 1598 a broken man
• Englands national spirit is emerging under
  Protestantism and set out to conqueror the seas
• The Netherlands are divided north and south
• North (7 provinces) becomes Protestant, tolerant,
  close the Scheldt, and emerge as a rising
  commercial force at sea and in banking
• South (10 provinces) becomes Catholic, is in
  ruins (40 yrs of war), and little help is
  forthcoming from Spain
• called Spanish Netherlands (Belgium today)
• Spain is imploding, financial dependence on New
  World wealth is becoming desperate, and
  leadership was directed toward Catholic affairs
  rather than Spains need
• Final blow to Spain is the line of incompetent
  kings that follow Philip

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