Friday, January 31, 2014

Grand Strategy of Philip II

Cover image for The grand strategy of Philip II / Geoffrey Parker.
The Grand Strategy of Philip II by Geoffrey Parker, 446 pages

In 1556, at the age of 29, Philip II inherited much of the Habsburg patrimony possessed by his father, Emperor Charles V, including the Low Countries, Milan, Naples, Sicily, and Spain with its American possessions.  In 1581 he became King of Portugal as well, which also bought him control over extensive colonial holdings in Brazil, Africa, and India.  His was the first "empire on which the sun never sets".  His reign is often regarded as the golden age of Spanish power and prestige, but the decline had visibly begun well before his death in 1598.

Geoffrey Parker's book is not a biography, but rather a study of how decisions were made, and sometimes not made, in Philip's government.  Such a far-flung empire, even the European parts of which were neither geographically nor linguistically united, did not lend itself to a single "Grand Strategy"; therefore, of necessity, Philip's policies tended to be reactions to crises.  Still, all was pursued in the perceived interests of the whole, united in the person of the sovereign, none more so than the "Enterprise of England" which culminated in the sailing of the Armada.  It is the decision-making surrounding this event that is analyzed most thoroughly, for the excellent reason that it is so well documented on both sides.  Although Parker does not diminish Philip's failures - especially in the Netherlands and England - he also acknowledges his successes - especially in the Mediterranean, Italy, and France.  In his thorough, balanced presentation, Parker manages to simultaneously use modern experience to critique Philip's leadership and analyze Philip's experiences as a lesson for modern leaders, even as he illustrates how structural and personal factors combine to make history.

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