Iudicium Caesaris: Philip IV of Spain

Not to be confused with this douche-canoe. Don't worry, Philip, I'll get to you someday; you'll wish I hadn't.

That's better.

Philip IV was one of those monarchs who's reign was neither an abysmal failure or a complete success. At the time he did a lot of good things, but unfortunately outside influences and the propaganda engines of his enemies did more to influence perception of him for the next few centuries after his death rather than honest critique.

Philip IV was an enthusiastic patron of the arts and theater (his affairs with actresses aside); a well-learned man with a particularly strong attraction to astronomy. In fact he regularly frequented parlors and salons with several other nobility to discuss contemporary literature of the day. If the accounts are to be believed, their commentary was rather satirical. A precursor to modern-day internet critics?

He was a good father by the standards of his day, and very pious in spite of his personal faults when it came to sexual morality. His policies reflect his conservative beliefs: he saw Europe as destined to be ruled by family-based Hapsburg hegemony in the fashion of his ancestors. He passed laws closing down the legal brothels in Spain, taxed luxury items heavily, and worked closely with the papacy to keep Spain's proud record of having the most upright and orthodox clergy in Europe, something that was in jeopardy due to a few decades of neglect.

Perhaps where he most desperately needed to shine was in the Thirty Years' War, a conflict that would have long-lasting ramifications for Catholic Europe, and not good ones. The Spanish Military performed well, but quickly modifying strategies and economic issues ultimately brought Spain to the short end of the stick. Philip was not a warrior at heart, and wanted peace more than anything. Arguably Spain could've benefited much more from a warrior-king, and those arguments would be right, but things have unfolded as they should, and by the grace of God the NSIR will right the terrible wrongs done by the Thirty Years' War to Europe regardless.

Not a perfect man, but a good man. Not a perfect monarch, but a good one, or in the least far better than what they could've gotten. He implemented a lot of good policies and had great ideas, but unfortunately outside forces often stopped these plans from being realized.

For more general information on Philip IV of Spain, check here. I know Wikipedia isn't the most reliable source, but it's a good starting point and sometimes even the reference section for articles serves as a nice little reading list for the more dedicated student of history.

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