Philip I of Castile Biography

Philip I, also called Philip The Handsome, was the first King of Castile from the House of Habsburg. He was born to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and his first wife Mary, the Duchess of Burgundy. The latter reigned many territories of the Duchy of Burgundy and the Low Countries. After Mary‘s death, Philip I inherited his mother’s dominions under the guardianship of his father. His father married him to Joanna of Castile, the second daughter of Ferdinand II, ruler of Aragon and Isabella I, ruler of Castile. Following Isabella‘s death, Joanna became queen regent. However, her mental incapacitation added with Ferdinand II’s efforts in laying hands on the regency of Castile led the nobles to summon Philip I to Spain and proclaim him jure uxoris King of Castile in 1506. He, however, died after a couple of months, arousing doubts of foul play by Ferdinand. He could not inherit his father’s dominions to become Holy Roman Emperor as the latter was still alive. His son Charles later ruled the lands of the former Duchy of Burgundy, the Holy Roman Empire as Charles V and the Spanish Empire as Charles I. Philip I, still considered as progenitor of all later monarchs of Spain, is regarded to have played a vital role in extending the territories of the House of Habsburg.