Did Phillip II of Spain have children?

Answer 1

Philip was married four times and had children with three of his wives. These three all died in childbirth. Most of his children died young.

Philip's first wife was his double first cousin, Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal. She was a daughter of Philip's maternal uncle, John III of Portugal, and paternal aunt, Catherine of Austria. The marriage produced one son, at whose birth Maria Manuela died in 1545:

• Carlos, Prince of Asturias (8 July 1545 - 24 July 1568), died unmarried and without issue.

Philip's second wife was his double first cousin once removed, Queen Mary I of England. The 1554 marriage to Mary was political. By this marriage, Philip became jure uxoris King of England and Ireland, although the couple was apart more than together as they ruled their respective countries. The marriage produced no children and Mary died in 1558, ending Philip's reign in England and Ireland.

Philip's third wife was Elisabeth of Valois, the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. {also a distant relation of Philip-she was descended from their mutual ancestor Alfonso VII of León and Castile}. Their marriage (1559-1568) produced five daughters. Elisabeth died hours after a miscarriage in 1568. Their children were:

• Miscarried twin daughters (1564).
• Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain (12 August 1566 - 1 December 1633), married Albert VII, Archduke of Austria,
• Catherine Michelle of Spain (10 October 1567 - 6 November 1597), married Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and had issue.
• miscarried or stillborn daughter (1568).

Philip's fourth and final wife was his sororal niece, Anna of Austria. By contemporary accounts, this was a convivial and satisfactory marriage (1570-1580) for both Philip and Anna. This marriage produced four sons and one daughter. Anna died after giving birth to Maria in 1580. Their children were:

• Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias (4 December 1571 - 18 October 1578), died young
• Charles Laurence (12 August 1573 - 30 June 1575), died young
• Diego, Prince of Asturias (15 August 1575 - 21 November 1582), died young
• Philip III of Spain (3 April 1578 - 31 March 1621)
• Maria (14 February 1580 - 5 August 1583), died young