Felipe II Sword

Felipe II (1527 –1598) was King of Spain, Naples and Sicily as well as Duke of Milan. During his marriage to Queen Mary I, he was also King of England and Ireland. Felipe II was lord of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. Known in Spanish as "Philip the Prudent" (Felipe el Prudente), his empire included territories on every continent then known to Europeans, including his namesake the Philippine Islands. During his reign, Spain reached the height of its influence and power. This is sometimes called the Golden Age. The expression, "the empire on which the sun never sets," was coined during Felipe's time to reflect the extent of his dominion. A devout Catholic, Felipe is also known for organising a huge naval expedition against Protestant England in 1588, known usually as the Spanish Armada, which was unsuccessful, mostly due to storms and grave logistical problems. Felipe II died in El Escorial, near Madrid, on 13 September 1598.