Philip II's Escorial


Philip II's Escorial was his brooding centre of Spanish power. It was part monastery, part mausoleum and part palace. Philip had a long and interesting connection with England. Technically he was King of England whilst married to Mary although he was denied effective power. Ironically, one area that he did influence the English was in renovating their fleet at a time when he hoped that it would become a Spanish ally and asset. This same fleet would later turn on the Spanish with avengeance during the reign of Elizabeth and did much to frustrate Spanish power.


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by Stephen Luscombe