Philip II of Spain
Philip II ruled the Spanish Empire at its apogee, overseeing the Iberian Union (1580), the Battle of Lepanto (1571), and the Armada disaster (1588). He managed the world's largest empire from his study in the Escorial, governing through paper rather than personal presence. His reign saw the consolidation of the American colonial system and the Manila Galleon trade.
- Lived: 1527 CE – 1598 CE
- Nationality: spanish
- Roles: king, head_of_state
