- 21 May 1527 Philip II of Spain was born.
- Jul 1554 Philip II of Spain, the son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, married Queen Mary I. This was his second marriage.
- Jan 1556 Philip II, son of Charles V, is crowned King of Spain after Charles V abdicates.
- 10 Aug 1557 Spanish and English troops in alliance defeated the French at the Battle of St. Quentin. French troops were defeated by the Spanish army at St. Quentin, France.
- 3 Apr 1559 Philip II of Spain and Henry II of France signed the peace of Cateau-Cambresis, ending a long series of wars between the Hapsburg and Valois dynasties.
- Jan 1560 Spanish King Philip II marries his third wife, Elisabeth van Valois. This cemented the peace of Cateau-Cambresis between Spain and France which was signed the previous year.
- 1561 Philip II moved his court to Madrid, which was but a village until this time, and proclaimed Madrid as capital of Spain.
- 1568 An eighty year war of independence from Spain was carried on by the Calvinist and predominantly mercantile Dutch provinces.(The Dutch Revolts)
- 7 Oct 1571 The Spanish navy defeats the Turkish navy at the battle of Lepanto
- 1581 Philip II, King of Spain, becomes King of Portugal.
- 8 Aug 1588 The Spanish Armada was destroyed. It was shattered around the coasts of the English Isles by an English fleet and a violent storm.
- 13 Sep 1598 Philip II of Spain, died.