Rule of Milan
Under the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis Spain retains Milan
Role range: 1556-1598
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Philip II Biography and Timeline — Page 2
Follow Philip II through 145 dated historical records for Spain.
Philip II, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
145Distinct records
2 of 4Page
1559–1568Years on this page
1559
Rule of Naples
Under the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis Spain retains Naples
Role range: 1556-1598
Rule of Sicily
Under the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis Spain retains Sicily
Role range: 1556-1598
Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Philip II makes peace with France after decades of Habsburg Valois warfare
Role range: 1556-1598
Treaty of Cateau Cambresis
Spain retains Franche-Comte, Milan, Naples & Sicily. Philip II marries Henry II's daughter Elizabeth. Henry II's sister marries Emmanuel Comte de Savoy. Ends the war between the Valois of France & the Habsburg Empire
Role range: 1556-1598
Marriage to Elizabeth Valois
Philip II marries Elizabeth of Valois under the Cateau Cambresis settlement
Role range: 1556-1598
Margaret Regent Appointed
Philip appoints Margaret of Parma as regent in the Netherlands
Role range: 1556-1598
Returns to Spain
Philip II returns to Spain after leaving the Netherlands
Role range: 1556-1598
Madrid Government
Philip increasingly governs his monarchy from Madrid
Role range: 1556-1598
Capital
Rules from Madrid for the rest of his reign
Role range: 1556-1598
Douai University
A Papal Bull establishes the foundation of the University of Douai at Walloon Flanders
Role range: 1556-1598
Papal Bull
A Papal Bull establishes the foundation of the University of Douai at Walloon Flanders
Role range: 1556-1598
Regency
Appoints Margaret of Austria, the Duchess of Parma & his half sister, as Regent
Role range: 1556-1598
Rule of Netherlands, The
Appoints Granvelle to head the Council of State which governs The Netherlands
Role range: 1556-1598
1560
Battle of Djerba
Spanish-led Christian forces suffer a major naval defeat at Djerba
Role range: 1526-1791 – 1556-1598
Marriage
Marries Elizabeth of Valois, daughter of Henry II of France
Role range: 1556-1598
1561
Capital at Madrid
Philip II establishes Madrid as the main seat of his government
Role range: 1556-1598
Royal Administration at Madrid
Philip strengthens Madrid as the administrative centre of the monarchy
Role range: 1556-1598
Netherlands Government
Rules the Spanish Netherlands through regency and councils from Madrid
Role range: 1556-1598
Rule of Netherlands
Continues central oversight of the Netherlands from Spain
Role range: 1556-1598
1563
Defence of Oran
Spanish forces resist the Ottoman aligned siege of Oran
Role range: 1526-1568 – 1556-1598
Madrid Government Consolidated
Philip continues building Madrid as the administrative centre of his monarchy
Role range: 1556-1598
Resignation of William I the Silent
William I resigns from the Dutch Council of State over Philips Hispanicization
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
1564
Visit to Madrid
Sends his Ambassadoe de Silva to visit Elizabreth I & to rally Catholic support
Role range: 1556-1598
Council of Trent
Enacts the Council of Trent in The Netherlands
Role range: 1556-1598
Resignation of Graneville
Accepts the resignation of Graneville from the Council of State in The Netherlands
Role range: 1556-1598
1565
Sends a subsidy to Mary Queen of Scots, it is shipwrecked off
Sends a subsidy to Mary Queen of Scots, it is shipwrecked off the Northumbrian Coast
Role range: 1556-1598
Reform of Religious Toleration
Replies to Williams appeal for toleration in The Netherlands by attacking heresy
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Capture of Spain
Spain occupies the Philippines
1566
Flemish Unrest Intensifies during Iconoclasm
Religious and political unrest spreads through Flanders during the iconoclastic disturbances of 1566.
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Rebellion of Rebels in Flanders
Riots break-out in southern Flanders
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
1567
Battle of Oosterweel
The Calvinists are defeated
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Siege of Tournai
Tournai surreders to the Spanish, the ringleaders are executed
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Siege of Valenciennes
Valenciennes surreders to the Spanish, the ringleaders are executed
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Invasion of Netherlands, The
Sends an Army led by the Duke of Alba into The Netherlands
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Oath
Governess Margaret of Parma demands the Dutch nobles to swear an oath of allegiance
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Rebellion of Rebels in Brussels
The war begins after religious persecution & centralization of Government in Brussels
Role range: 1568-1648 – 1556-1598
Rebellion of Rebels in Brussels
The war begins after religious persecution & centralization of Government in Brussels
Role range: 1556-1598
1568
Death of Philip II
Death of Carlos, Philips son, 7 months after being arrested
Role range: 1556-1598
Arrest of Don Carlos
Has his son Carlos arrested
Role range: 1556-1598
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.