Philippe II, king of Spain, was the son of Charles V

and reigned from 1556 to 1598. His grcat idea was to check everywhere the progress of the Reformation, but his efforts were unsuccessful. In France he vainly opposed the succession of Henry of Navarre to the crown ; the invincible Armada, which he sent against England, was destroyed by a tempest, and he was unable to crush the revolt of the Netherlands.