Philip's Failure Of Censorship In Spain

Philip’s focus on foreign policies in the later years of his reign, however, brought financial losses to the Crown. The French rejected Philip’s proposal in 1592 to put Isabella, his eldest daughter, on the French throne, and instead gave support to Henry of Navarre after his conversion to Catholicism in 1593. Philip’s failure to expand Spanish influence led to a brief war with France, driving Spain bankrupt for the third time in 1596; peace was only achieved through the Treaty of Vervins in 1598. Philip’s foreign religious policies evidently failed to increase Spanish influence, and financial losses were observed as a result.

Nonetheless, Philip was able to make use of the Moriscos’ threat to Spain’s benefit. His foreign policies were driven

With a combination of domestic and foreign religious policies, threats from Protestantism and other religions were eradicated to secure a Catholic kingdom by 1598. The Crown’s victory in the Granada revolt and the implementation of censorship also contributed to further religious adherence within Spain. However, Philip’s failure to establish the Council of Trent meant that Spain lacked quality clergymen, and converts within the kingdom were held to different standards. This heightened tension between Catholics and Moriscos and served to undermine Spain’s claim to a Catholic kingdom. Philip’s censorship policy also prevented the influx of foreign ideas that could potentially benefit Spain’s cultural development, suggesting a loss for Spanish humanities. Nevertheless, the securing of Catholicism boosted the Crown’s authority and compensated for what was lost in terms of social stability, finance and culture. Therefore, more was gained than lost for the Crown with Philip’s religious

The Inquisition established by Ferdinand and Isabella not only allowed for the persecution of conversos and Moriscos, but also provided their successors with a systematic form of oppression later expanded to target alternate forms of heresy. The foundation of a unified Catholic kingdom under Ferdinand and Isabella also established economic support from Rome to Spain, which was continued throughout Charles I and Philip II’s reigns by means of the cruzada and income from the Spanish church. Rome’s recognition of the monarchs’ religious policies provided full justification for Spanish inquisitorial authority, and the kingdom’s international influence was further expanded through the foreign explorations funded by Ferdinand and Isabella, which allowed for religious influence and authority to be exerted over the New World. Therefore, from the Crown’s point of view, the monarchs’ religious policies evidently brought more gains than losses to