In his mid-forties, Philip decided to subdue Protestant England. He ordered the Duke of Alba to invade the island nation, deploying an army of only six thousand. Spain’s best general, the duke insisted this task was pure folly, but Philip proclaimed it was God’s will that Spain would prevail. Elizabeth ruled England by means of “tyranny,” Philip believed, and Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, was the “true and legitimate successor” to Elizabeth. But Mary was both unlucky and unwise.
