A History of Modern Europe from the Invasion of the Barbarians to the Present Day, a Hand-Book for Schools (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 Excerpt: ...grants and privileges, and governed here as elsewhere with a uniform sanguinary despotism. The noble city of Saragossa, when attempting to maintain her rights, was unmercifully punished by Castilian soldiery; and her downfal was speedily followed by that of the kingdom of Arragon. The tyrant abroad is also generally a tyrant at home; and Philip's conduct towards his own blood justifies the assertion. His eldest son Don Carlos having, through his haughty and violent temper, his independent spirit, and liberal views, incurred the displeasure of his unnatural father, the 1568. latter had him placed in confinement, where after the lapse of six months, lie mysteriously died. Many of the ambitious A. D. schemes of this sullen, cold-blooded and suspicious king were completely defeated; and a long series of mortifying disasters befel his arms, so that at his death, which was 1598. preceded by protracted and excruciating sufferings, he left the Spanish monarchy enfeebled, depressed, impoverished, and mutilated of some of its best possessions. Philip III., surnamed the Pious, succeeded his father 1593-1621. when barely twenty-one years of age. Tbis virtuous, but weak and bigoted prince, left the government entirely in the hands of his favourite, the duke of Lerma, who ruled the kingdom for the next twenty years. The chief events of this reign were the acknowledgment of the independence of the Dutch provinces, and the expulsion of the last Moors from Spain. The latter act and a too lavish expenditure, even exceeding the enormous revenues and resources of the kingdom, brought the Spanish power to a sudden decline; for it had been already undermined by the vicious and atrocious rule of his predecessor. Philip IV. (the Great), who ascended the throne on the 1621-1665. ea...