PHILIP II. king of Spain, a celebrated politician, but a cruel tyrant through bigotry, by which he lost the 17 provinces of Flanders belonging to the crown of Spain, seven of which form the republic of Holland, and the other ten are subject to France and Austria. For his marriage with Mary queen of England, and his invasion of England under Elizabeth, see the article ENGLAND. He was born in the year 1527, and died in 1528.