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Cultural depictions of Philip II of Spain facts for kids

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Philip II of Spain was one of the most powerful rulers in Europe during his time. Because of his strong rule, many artists have created works about him for over 400 years. These works include plays, operas, movies, books, and poems.

Literature

Many authors have written novels about Philip II and the events of his reign.

  • The novel The Legend of Thyl Ulenspiegel and Lamme Goedzak (1867) by Charles de Coster shows Philip II in a very negative way. It tells the story of the Geuzen, also known as the Sea Beggars, who fought against Spanish rule in the Southern Netherlands.
  • In the Palace of the King (1900) by F. Marion Crawford is a novel about Philip's life.
  • House of Torment (1910) by C. Ranger Gull describes Philip and Mary's time ruling England. It shows the difficulties faced by Protestants during their reign.
  • A Knight of Spain (1913) by Marjorie Bowen focuses on the relationship between Philip and his half-brother, Don John of Austria.
  • Margaret Irwin wrote Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain (1953). This historical novel is about Princess Elizabeth's time in prison and how she survived during the difficult marriage between Philip and Queen Mary I.
  • Jean Plaidy wrote Spanish Bridegroom (1954), a historical novel about Philip's first three marriages.
  • The story of Carlos Fuentes's novel Terra Nostra (1975) is about the building of Philip II's monastery and palace, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid. The novel uses the building's design to represent Spain's powerful role in the New World.
  • Harry Turtledove's alternate history novel Ruled Britannia (2002) imagines a world where the Spanish Armada won, and King Philip conquered England. In this story, even Shakespeare is made to write a play praising King Philip.
  • In Philippa Gregory's novel The Queen's Fool (2004), which is set in the court of Mary I of England, Princess Elizabeth flirts with Mary's husband, King Philip.
  • Harry Kelsey's biographical novel Philip of Spain, King of England: The Forgotten Sovereign (2011) takes place during his marriage to Queen Mary Tudor of England. It explores his role as king-consort in a foreign country.
  • Winston Graham's The Grove Of Eagles focuses on Philip II's second attempt to invade England in 1598. The author suggests this attempt was better planned than the famous Armada of 1588. In one scene, the main character, a young Englishman, meets the King himself, who is working quietly at a simple desk.

Film and television

Philip II has been played by many actors in movies and TV shows.

  • Sam De Grasse in In the Palace of the King (1923)
  • Raymond Massey in Fire Over England (1937); This movie shows Philip as a very hard-working, smart, and religious ruler who cares deeply about his country.
  • Montagu Love in The Sea Hawk (1940)
  • Paul Scofield in That Lady (1955)
  • Günther Ballier in The Mayor of Zalamea (1956)
  • Fernando Rey in El Greco (1966) and Cervantes (1967)
  • Peter Jeffrey in Elizabeth R (1971)
  • George Yiasoumi in Elizabeth (1998)
  • Jordi Mollá in Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
  • Juanjo Puigcorbé in La Conjura de El Escorial (2008)
  • Mathew Baynton in Horrible Histories (2011–12)
  • Ben Willbond in Bill (2015)
  • Marcel Borràs and Pablo Arbués in Carlos, rey emperador (2015–16)
  • Carlos Hipólito in El ministerio del tiempo (2016)

Theater

Philip II is a key character in several plays.

Opera

Poem

King Philip's in his closet with the Fleece about his neck
(Don John of Austria is armed upon the deck.)
The walls are hung with velvet that is black and soft as sin,
And little dwarfs creep out of it and little dwarfs creep in.
He holds a crystal phial that has colours like the moon,
He touches, and it tingles, and he trembles very soon,
And his face is as a fungus of a leprous white and grey
Like plants in the high houses that are shuttered from the day,
And death is in the phial, and the end of noble work,
But Don John of Austria has fired upon the Turk.

Art

Portraits

  1. In this portrait, Philip wears the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and black armor. The armor is similar to one made for him in Augsburg. Alonso Sánchez Coello (1531/2–1588) was a favorite painter of Philip.
  2. This bronze statue was likely first made in 1551. Leone Leoni (1509–1590) also created busts of Philip and Charles V. His son Pompeo Leoni (around 1533–1608) later worked on the royal chapel at Philip's palace of El Escorial.
  3. As he got older, Philip preferred simple clothing for himself and his court. Here, he wears the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and holds a rosary. This painting has been linked to Sánchez Coello, but some experts now believe it was painted by Sofonisba Anguissola. She was an artist who served Philip's third wife, Elisabeth of Valois, and often worked with Sánchez Coello.
  4. Sánchez Coello's student, Juan Pantoja de la Cruz (1553–1608), became the next royal painter. He painted this portrait of Philip in his old age. The painting shows Philip standing tall, dressed in black, with only the Fleece as decoration. His face is pale, matching his beard and hair, and his eyes look tired.

Allegories

  • Family of Henry VIII, an Allegory of the Tudor Succession

    1. The Family of Henry VIII: An Allegory of the Tudor Succession, by Lucas de Heere, around 1572

  • Philip II offering Fernando

    2. Philip II offering Fernando to Victory, by Titian, 1572–75

  • El Greco, The Adoration of the Name of Jesus

    3. The Adoration of the Name of Jesus, by El Greco, 1577–80

  • Het melkkoetje (artiest onbekend, ca 1580-1595)

    4. The Milch Cow, by an unknown artist, around 1583

  1. This painting from the Elizabethan period combines portraits with allegory (a picture that represents an idea). It shows Henry VIII of England and his three children, along with figures from myths. Henry died in 1547, but his daughter Mary is shown next to her husband, Philip, whom she married in 1554. Mars, the god of war, behind them, represents their wars.
  2. Titian's allegorical painting celebrates the victory of the Holy League over the Ottoman Turks at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. It also celebrates the birth of Philip's son, Don Fernando, soon after. The battle is shown in the background, and a defeated Turk is at Philip's feet. The king holds Fernando up to an angel. Titian was a favorite artist of King Philip.
  3. El Greco may have painted The Adoration of the Name of Jesus to try and gain favor with King Philip. This painting can be seen as an allegory of the Holy League's victory at Lepanto in 1571. The figure in black is King Philip. The man in the yellow robe is a doge of Venice, and the old man opposite him is the pope. The figure on the left is Philip's brother John of Austria, who led the Christian fleet.
  4. The Milch Cow is a satirical cartoon that shows a cow representing the Dutch provinces. King Philip is trying to ride the cow, Queen Elizabeth is feeding it, William of Orange is milking it, and the Duke of Anjou is holding its tail. This cartoon makes fun of the political situation in Europe at the time.

Video games

  • In the video games Civilization II and Civilization VI, Philip II is the leader of the Spanish.

See also

  • Cultural depictions of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
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