Philip of Spain was the son of Emperor Charles V and Isabella, the daughter of Emanuel of Portugal.

Several groups around the country were unhappy with the proposal of marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain. In Wales a group was led by Sir James Croft. In Devon another group was led by Sir Peter Carew. The Duke of Suffolk was in Leicestershire, but it was only Sir Thomas Wyatt from Kent who managed to get a force together. ¹

A Spanish embassy arrived at the Court of Queen Mary of England with a formal offer of marriage to Philip of Spain. ¹

Parliament agreed to the marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain under certain conditions. These stated that Philip could not interfere with the workings of the realm and could not put any foreigners in positions of importance. Philip must not make moves to start a war between England and France. It also stated that Philip's son from his marriage to his first wife had no claim to the English throne and that only offspring from Philip and Mary could go on to rule England. If Mary died without an heir, Philip could not himself claim the Englsih throne. Philip could not alter any laws or remove any wealth from the country.

With marriage arrangements well under way Philip II of Spain landed at Southampton. He then travelled to Winchester where the marriage was to take place. ¹

The marriage of Queen Mary of England and Philip of Spain took place. The marriage was conducted at Winchester Cathedral.

Philip II of Spain left England and travelled back to Brussels to see his father Charles. Charles was suffering from premature aging due to his excessive lifestytle and was preparing to abdicate from his duties as King of Spain and retire. ¹

Philip of Spain became King of Spain upon the abdication of his father Charles.

In the first week of January the French attacked the town of Douai on the Flemish border. This broke the Treaty of Vaucelles and war between France and Spain was formally declared.

Philip returned to England and Mary's side. During his stay he attempted to persuade the Queen to declare war on France.

Mary's requests for her Council to agree to declare war on France were turned down. Their concern was that the country could not afford such an expensive endevour and risk losing such an important trading partner.

With the help of Mary, Philip now had extra support for his war with France and he departed England from Dover. This would be the last time they would see each other.

A French army attempting to raise the siege at St Quentin was defeated by the Spanish. The capture of the town by the Spanish was assisted by an English army led by the Earl of Pembroke.

A peace treaty signed by both Henry II of France and Philip II of Spain bringing an end to the conflicts between their countries. Part of the treaty was the agreed future marriage of Philip and Elizabeth of Valois, the French kings daughter, who had originally been promised to Philip's son Carlos.

Philip II of Spain moved his court to Madrid. The town then became the capital of the country.The King set about building a new palace a few miles from Madrid called El Escorial and was designed in the form of a gridiron.

Pope Pius V drew up a Bull of Excommunication on Queen Elizabeth. His hope was that the Catholic states of France and Spain would come together to remove the English Queen. The Bull was not issued immediately as both Philip of Spain and Charles of France were against it.

When Cardinal Henry of Portugal died in 1580, Philip II, the Spainish king, invaded the country and made it part Spain. This led to several years of Spainish rule where the Portuguese people were oppressed.

In mid-afternoon Drake's small fleet or four ships sailed in to Cadiz harbour and opened fire with their cannons on the many cargo boats lining the docks. By the end of the day the harbour was alight with the flames of the burning ships.

From Cadiz, Drake sailed north west to Cape St Vincent, the point of Portugal that changes from north to west. This was an important location as any Spanish ships coming south would have to go around the Cape and be met by Drake's cannons. A few miles to the east of the Cape is a natural port and town called Sagres. The port was protected by a fort which Drake attacked and captured. ¹

Led by Hugh O'Neill, the earl of Tyrone, the Irish rose up against Tudor rule. He looked to Spain and its king, Philip II for assistance.

Queen Elizabeth commissioned Drake and Hawkins to attack Spanish ships that might be planning an attack on England. The large fleet began to assemble in Plymouth but it was hard to keep such a number of ships secret and word was sent to Spain  ¹

The French king sent a delegation to England to ask for help with his war against Spain. But Queen Elizabeth refused.

Philip II of Spain put together another armada in an attempt to invade England. But a violent storm scattered and destroying many of the ships.

King Philip II of Spain died. He was succeeded by his son Philip III.