Monarchs

1556 - 1598

The eldest son of Charles I of Spain and V, Holy Roman Emperor (1500-1558) and Isabella of Portugal (1503-1539), the future Philip II was educated by his tutor, Juan de Zúñiga, by Cardinal Silíceo, his teacher of elementary education and confessor, and by Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, who provided his pupil with a humanist education. Prince Philip’s political apprenticeship commenced in 1543, when he first replaced his father, Charles I, as Governor of Spain. In 1548, the heir to the Crown set out on a long tour of northern Italy, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands, thus visiting some of the territories that he would rule over in the future. Married four times, Philip II's wives were María Manuela de Portugal (1527-1545), whom he married on...

1621 - 1665

The third son of Philip III (1578-1621) and Margaret of Austria (1584-1611), the future Philip IV was born in Valladolid, the capital of the Hispanic Monarchy between 1601 and 1606. Sworn heir to the Crown on 30th January 1608, in the Church of San Jerónimo El Real in Madrid, he was educated by Galcerán Albanell, a Catalan nobleman of renowned erudition. Prince Philip, as he was then, received classes in History, Geography, Mathematics and military tactics. After ascending the throne in 1621, he furthered his education by expanding his reading and learned languages such as Italian and French. ...