In this definitive history, Robert Watson and William Thomson offer a comprehensive account of the reign of King Philip III of Spain. Drawing on archival research and a wealth of primary sources, including contemporary literature and art, the authors provide a vivid portrait of the political, social, and cultural landscape of 17th century Spain. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of Europe and the rise of the modern nation-state. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.