Absolute Monarchs Philip II and Charles V

  • Feb 24, 1500

    Birth of Charles V

    Birth of Charles V
    Charles V was born on February 24, 1500 in Ghent, Belgium
  • Period: 1516 to 1519

    Early Life

    Charles V inherits the crown as the King of Spain in 1516. In 1519, Charles became the heir to the sprawling Hapsburg empire, which included the Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands.
  • Period: 1527 to 1554

    Early Life

    Philip II was the son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and his wife, Isabella of Portugal. The culture of Spain were an important influence in his early life. Even though Philip II was supposedly a German archduke of the House of Hapsburg, he was seen overall as a foreigner. Philip II felt the same way anyway. He felt himself to be of more Spanish culture. At elven months, Philip received the oath of allegiance as heir to the crown from the Cortes of Castile.
  • Period: 1527 to 1554

    Early Life Part II

    Philip II had expanded Spanish influence, all thanks to silver in the Spanish colonies inside of the Americas. Philip II then lead Spain to be the foremost power in Europe. Philip II had also fought a lot of wars in order to expand Catholic power. He saw himself as the guardian of the Roman Catholic Church and saw Queen Elizabeth I as his Protestant enemy.
  • May 21, 1527

    Birth of Philip II

    Birth of Philip II
    Philip II was born May 21, 1527 in the Pimentel Palace in Valladolid, Spain
  • 1556

    Heir Life

    Charles V was a devout Catholic, he fought to suppress Protestantism in the German states. With years of religious conflict, Charles had to allowed German princes to choose their own religion. Charles V then gave up his titles in 1556. He divided the empire, leaving Hapsburg lands in central Europe to his brother Ferdinand, who became Holy Roman emperor. He gave Spain, the Netherlands, some southern Italian states, an Spain’s overseas empire to his 29 year old son Philip, who became Philip II.
  • Sep 21, 1558

    Death of Charles V

    Charles V died on September 21, 1558 in Yuste, Spain. He had died of Malaria at the time.
  • Spanish Armada

    Spanish Armada
    Philip II prepared an armada, or fleet, to carry out a force Spanish invasion into England. However, as the Spanish Armada was defeated, that was the beginning of Spain's downfall.
  • Death of Philip II

    Philip II had died on September 13, 1598 in El Escorial, Spain. Philip II had died of cancer of that time.
  • Spain's Downfall

    After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, Spain's wealth, strength and economy started to weaken.