1. THE EUROPEAN WARS OF RELIGION c. 1560-1648

2. Philip II (r. 1556 – 1598) Son of Charles V
Ruled Spanish & Portuguese Empires, Netherlands and Southern Italy.
Strongest military power in the world.

3. El Escorial
New royal palace/fortress (and monastery and mausoleum) in shape of grill, reflected Philip’s religious and military convictions.

4. Catholic Crusade
Philip II fanatically seeks to reimpose Catholicism in Europe.
Takes on Calvinists in his Netherlands territories.
Fights against Protestant England due to Elizabeth I’s support of the Dutch
Takes on Muslim Turks power in the Mediterranean.

5. Battle of Lepanto
Encouraged by Pope Pius V, Philip used combined Spanish and Italian fleets to fight the Turks.
Spain defeated Turkish navy off coast of Greece.
Turkish navy severely weakened as result.

6. The Dutch Revolt
Calvinist Netherlands resented foreign rule by Spain (both on religious, economic, and political grounds).
Philip II sends the Duke of Alva to suppress revolt reign of terror killing thousands of rebels.
Duke of Alva

7. The Dutch Revolt
1579, seven northern provinces form Union of Utrecht to continue fight.
William I (William of Orange) ( ), led 7 provinces against Inquisition and revolt against rule of Philip II. He was assassinated in 1584.
Struggle continued to 1609; 12-year truce enacted; Defacto Dutch independence formally recognised in P of W in 1648.

8. England v. Spain
Queen Mary Tudor (Philip’s wife) reimposes Catholicism in England.
Alliance with England ends with death of Mary in 1558 and the accession of Elizabeth.
Queen Elizabeth I reverses Mary’s edicts Elizabeth helps Protestant Netherlands gain independence from Spain.
Philip plots to reimpose Catholicism in England

9. Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England (r ) championed Protestant causes in Europe.
England was an unlikely foe to Spain (lost possessions in Europe, had no overseas possessions)
Elizabeth carefully crafted her image to instill the love of her people.
Elizabeth supported the Dutch Revolt and English privateers regularly attacked Spanish colonial shipping.

10. The Armada, 1588
Philip II attempts to invade England to end Protestant resistance.
Fleet attempts to pick up Spanish troops in the Netherlands for invasion.
Armada is harassed by smaller, better armed and more manuverable English fleet

11. The Armada, 1588
The combination of better English seamanship and bad weather (“the Protestant Wind”) defeated the Spanish.
Forced to return home via northern route, half the fleet lost.
Marked the beginning of the end of Spanish power; leads to rise of Netherlands, England and France.