Asses The View That Philip Ii’s Character Caused s

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Asses the view that Philip II’s character caused serious problems in his rule of Spain From studying primary sources and passages I have discovered that Philip’s character has been a very controversial issue from 1556-1598. By looking at these pieces of evidence from historians I have been able to conclude with two different interpretations of how Philips character may have caused serious problems in his rule of Spain. One view is of Philip as a ‘monster of calculating cruelty’[1], and the other of Philip as a private, thorough, yet committed King with a ‘genuine sense that here was a great ruler, in tune with traditions and aspirations for his people, for better and for worse’[2]. Historian Robert Watson summarises appropriately that ‘No character was ever drawn by different historians in more opposite colours than Phillip II’[3]. We are presented with the view of Philips character being one of a ‘monster of calculating cruelty’. This is portrayed in a primary source from William the Silent’s Apology by William of Orange. Philip is said to have ‘murdered his wife, murdered his own son’ and then this is followed with an insinuation of making Cardinal Granvelle ‘to poison the late Emperor Maximilian!’[4] These accusations of Philip portray him in a bad light; the death of his Don Carlos has been blamed on Philip with additional rumours that during his son’s confinement he drank large quantities of ice-cold water and slept in a bed full of ice. The rumour derived from Philips dissimulation strategy that worked against him allowing opposition to blame him. Philips cold hearted approach can be supported by the secret garrotting of Baron Montigny in Simancas castle, 1570, that was publicly announced as natural causes. Also, the violation of the Aragonese fueros by Philip led to the revolt in 1591, suggesting that his character and decisions did result in problems of
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