Author Topic: Philip II (Read 751 times)

Vladimir · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 09:47:01 PM »

I read that Philip II married several times - how can he be regarded as saintly then?

St Jude Thaddeus · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2009, 01:11:17 AM »

Philip was a triple widower: his first three wives all perished.

Philip's first wife was his double first cousin, Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal; she was daughter of John III of Portugal and Catherine of Habsburg. The marriage produced one son, at whose birth Maria died.

Philip's second wife was his first cousin once removed, Queen Mary I of England. Mary was significantly older than Philip, and the marriage was political. By this marriage, Philip became jure uxoris King of England, but the marriage produced no children and Mary died in 1558.

Philip's third wife was Elisabeth of Valois, the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Their marriage produced five children. Elisabeth died hours after a miscarriage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Spain

The same article includes this rather balanced paragraph:

Philip was an austere and intelligent statesman. He was given to suspicion of members of his court, and was something of a meddlesome manager; but he was not the cruel tyrant painted by his opponents and subsequent Anglophile histories. He took great care in administering his dominions, and was known to intervene personally on behalf of the humblest of his subjects.

Vladimir · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2009, 11:32:17 PM »

Oh thank you for clarifying that.

Author Topic: Philip II (Read 751 times)

Vladimir

Philip II

St Jude Thaddeus

Philip II

Vladimir

Philip II