Philip III

Full Name: Philip III was also known as Philip the Pious
Profession: King of Spain and Portugal

Nationality:

Biography: Phillip III took to the throne as King of Spain in 1598 after the death of his father, Phillip II. While Phillip III was not the eldest son, his older brother Don Carlos had suffered from extreme mental instability and died in 1568 after spending half a year in solitary confinement on the orders of his father.

Phillip III was generally seen as less suited to the throne than his brother, with the notable exception that he was on the whole mentally stable. He oversaw a period of economic difficulties which was set in during the early period of his reign and were to plague Spain thereafter.

While he is regarded as something of a non-entity, he nevertheless reigned during a crucial period of Spanish history. Phillip III brought the Spanish Empire into the Thirty Years' War, for instance, with what was initially a dazzling success.

Born: April 14, 1578
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Star Sign: Aries

Died: March 31, 1621 (aged 42)