Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for January 16.
Today in 1556 Philip II became the King of Spain when his father, Charles V, abdicated. The relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Phillip started out rocky but cordial – with Philip actually wanting to marry Elizabeth so that he could keep a foothold in England after his wife Mary I had died. Marrying her sister’s husband was too much for Elizabeth, and she rejected the offer straight away. But still, Philip took the decision that England could be used to balance the power in Europe, and defended Elizabeth to the Pope against those who wanted her declared a heretic and bastard. Her Protestantism, and support for Protestants who were rebelling against Philip’s rule in the Netherlands, as well as her support for English pirates preying on Spanish ships coming back from the New World were too much for him, and led in part to the Armada, and the on again off again war that would last several decades, until Elizabeth’s death.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.