Philip II
The future Philip II, son of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, was born in Valladolid on May 21, 1527. Educated for the role that destiny had reserved for him (inheriting the domains of the emperor), from his childhood he assimilated the importance of royal dignity and physically and emotionally distances himself from the people around him. Felipe ends up having a reserved character with a progressive tendency to secrecy.
In his youth, Philip II is a gallant courtier who has various loves. His marriage to María Manuela de Portugal, on November 13, 1543, is the harbinger of the personal misfortunes that will accompany him. His wife will die after a year and a half, after giving birth to the eldest son Carlos, origin of the black legend that history will cast on her person. Philip will see all his wives die, several of his young children, his daughter Catalina Micaela, and other people around him.
Before his accession to the throne, Philip has important government responsibilities that make him a conscientious and hard-working ruler.
Influenced by his father, he is a deeply religious man who makes the defense of faith, honor and prestige his main political objective. His defense of the Catholic religion and the fight against heresy makes him fervently protective of the Inquisition. In the application of justice, he will often act severely and uncompromisingly, especially when his power and authority are called into question.
Philip has been accustomed since his childhood to the presence of Francisco de Borja in the family environment. He sees him always accompanying his father and his mother and this trust, out of respect for his parents, he will try to maintain as king. However, relations between Francisco and Philip will begin to deteriorate from the moment Francisco enters the Jesuits. First because of the bad relations that Philip II had with the popes, to whom Borja owes obedience, and, later, because of the new environment of confidants at court, opposed to the Society of Jesus and enemies of Francisco.
The process initiated against Borja by the Inquisition will completely cool relations, which will slowly be restored when Francisco is appointed General of the Company. Over the years, Philip II will receive Borja in Madrid with the same honors with which he was treated by his father, the emperor.
