Charles V
When Charles became king of Spain, his territory also included the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands, along with colonies in the Americas. He had inherited all these lands. Then in 1519 the throne of the Holy Roman Empire became vacant. The position was elective, so Charles borrowed money to buy the votes. He became Holy Roman Emperor. His empire was so vast he like to say “ the sun never set over it”
He faced many enemies and as Holy Roman Emperor he wanted Europe to be Roman Catholic. His power was closely connected to the catholic church, so the growing protestant movement threatened his influence. In 1521 Charles confronted Martin Luther directly declaring him an outlaw. After years of devastating wars between Catholics and Protestants Charles V had to sign the Peace of Augsburg. The agreement signed in 1555 gave each German prince the right to decide whether his state would be Catholic or Protestant.
He would achieve more success in the Americas than in Europe under his rule much land was claimed for Spain such as the Aztec empire by Hernando Cortez.
When Charles became king of Spain, his territory also included the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands, along with colonies in the Americas. He had inherited all these lands. Then in 1519 the throne of the Holy Roman Empire became vacant. The position was elective, so Charles borrowed money to buy the votes. He became Holy Roman Emperor. His empire was so vast he like to say “ the sun never set over it”
He faced many enemies and as Holy Roman Emperor he wanted Europe to be Roman Catholic. His power was closely connected to the catholic church, so the growing protestant movement threatened his influence. In 1521 Charles confronted Martin Luther directly declaring him an outlaw. After years of devastating wars between Catholics and Protestants Charles V had to sign the Peace of Augsburg. The agreement signed in 1555 gave each German prince the right to decide whether his state would be Catholic or Protestant.
He would achieve more success in the Americas than in Europe under his rule much land was claimed for Spain such as the Aztec empire by Hernando Cortez.
Spain under Philip II
Spain reached the peak of its grandeur during the reign of Philip the II. One reason for this was the steady stream of Gold and Silver that flowed from its American colonies. Like his father Charles V he was a devout Catholic. A chance to spread Catholicism came when Philip married Queen Mary I of England, who was also catholic. She died, though, before she could give birth to an heir who could have returned England to the Catholic faith. Under his rule a bloody revolt began in the 1560's when the Dutch refused to declare allegiance to Philip. To punish them, he sent an army under the command of the Duke of Alba. Alba set up a court, known locally as the Court of blood, that tortured and executed thousands of people suspected of being rebels. This only made the situation worse, and rebellion broke out anew.
Spain reached the peak of its grandeur during the reign of Philip the II. One reason for this was the steady stream of Gold and Silver that flowed from its American colonies. Like his father Charles V he was a devout Catholic. A chance to spread Catholicism came when Philip married Queen Mary I of England, who was also catholic. She died, though, before she could give birth to an heir who could have returned England to the Catholic faith. Under his rule a bloody revolt began in the 1560's when the Dutch refused to declare allegiance to Philip. To punish them, he sent an army under the command of the Duke of Alba. Alba set up a court, known locally as the Court of blood, that tortured and executed thousands of people suspected of being rebels. This only made the situation worse, and rebellion broke out anew.
Spain and England
Long before the Dutch revolt ended, it had deepened another rivalry. That conflict was between Spain and England. As fellow protestants, the English had sent aid to the Dutch rebels. England’s assistance to the Dutch infuriated Philip, but he was also worried about English attacks on his ships. England’s Queen Elizabeth I was allowing her ship captains to attack Spanish treasure ships coming from America. These ship captains, known as the sea dogs, stole the gold and silver for England. Sir Francis Drake was one of the most infamous sea dogs. Drake even destroyed 30 ships in a Spanish harbor. King Philip II wanted to stop England from raiding his ships and to return England to the Catholic church, from which it had broken in 1534. He decided to invade England.
Philip ordered his navy to assemble a great fleet, the Spanish Armada. It totaled about 130 ships and 20,000 soldiers and sailors. The fleet, sailed into the English Channel in 1588. Queen Elizabeth I rallied her troops, and the English prepared for attack.
The Spanish had packed the ships with soldiers for a land invasion. They had also planned to be joined by Spanish forces in the Netherlands. Instead they faced a series of fierce naval battles that severely damaged their fleet. Then, the English set eight ships on fire and aimed them at the remaining ships of the Armada. In panic and disarray, the Spanish ships fled before the English fire ships. As the damaged ships made their way home the long way around, several were wrecked. King Philip’s Armada was not invincible.
Long before the Dutch revolt ended, it had deepened another rivalry. That conflict was between Spain and England. As fellow protestants, the English had sent aid to the Dutch rebels. England’s assistance to the Dutch infuriated Philip, but he was also worried about English attacks on his ships. England’s Queen Elizabeth I was allowing her ship captains to attack Spanish treasure ships coming from America. These ship captains, known as the sea dogs, stole the gold and silver for England. Sir Francis Drake was one of the most infamous sea dogs. Drake even destroyed 30 ships in a Spanish harbor. King Philip II wanted to stop England from raiding his ships and to return England to the Catholic church, from which it had broken in 1534. He decided to invade England.
Philip ordered his navy to assemble a great fleet, the Spanish Armada. It totaled about 130 ships and 20,000 soldiers and sailors. The fleet, sailed into the English Channel in 1588. Queen Elizabeth I rallied her troops, and the English prepared for attack.
The Spanish had packed the ships with soldiers for a land invasion. They had also planned to be joined by Spanish forces in the Netherlands. Instead they faced a series of fierce naval battles that severely damaged their fleet. Then, the English set eight ships on fire and aimed them at the remaining ships of the Armada. In panic and disarray, the Spanish ships fled before the English fire ships. As the damaged ships made their way home the long way around, several were wrecked. King Philip’s Armada was not invincible.
An Empire in Decline
The defeat of the Armada was not the end for Spain, which recovered from the loss. But England remained Protestant, defiant, and undefeated. Spain's real problems were internal. Philip’s government was so centralized that he insisted on approving every decision himself. In addition, because Philip trusted no one, the court was riddled by factions and suspicion. As a result, government action practically came to a standstill. Moreover, Philip spent the Wealth from the Americas on constant warfare. It was never enough, though-he borrowed money often and went bankrupt four times. The flood of American gold and silver also drove up prices, leading to inflation. Nor did Spain develop industries, relying instead on its traditional agricultural economy. Therefore, the economy lagged behind that of other countries Spain gradually declined as a major power.
What is inflation? The increase of prices leads to the decrease of the purchase value of money.
The defeat of the Armada was not the end for Spain, which recovered from the loss. But England remained Protestant, defiant, and undefeated. Spain's real problems were internal. Philip’s government was so centralized that he insisted on approving every decision himself. In addition, because Philip trusted no one, the court was riddled by factions and suspicion. As a result, government action practically came to a standstill. Moreover, Philip spent the Wealth from the Americas on constant warfare. It was never enough, though-he borrowed money often and went bankrupt four times. The flood of American gold and silver also drove up prices, leading to inflation. Nor did Spain develop industries, relying instead on its traditional agricultural economy. Therefore, the economy lagged behind that of other countries Spain gradually declined as a major power.
What is inflation? The increase of prices leads to the decrease of the purchase value of money.