Question

In the last half of the 1500s this powerful, devout Habsburg king of Spain (and son of Charles V) devoted himself to expanding his empire and stopping the spread of the Protestant faith -- His efforts were largely thwarted, as he would lose control of the Netherlands and fail to restore Catholicism to England

A) Charles V

B) Philip II

C) Ferdinand I

D) Maximilian II

Answer 1

The Habsburg king of Spain in the late 1500s who sought to expand his empire and combat Protestantism was Philip II, who eventually lost control of the Netherlands and failed to recapture England for Catholicism.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the last half of the 1500s, the powerful, devout Habsburg king of Spain who devoted himself to expanding his empire and stopping the spread of the Protestant faith was Philip II. Despite his efforts, Philip II faced significant setbacks, including the loss of control over the Netherlands after a prolonged battle against Calvinist rebels and the failure to restore Catholicism in England following the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Philip II, ruling from 1556-1598, is known for his role as a defender of Catholicism during a period when Spain aspired to maintain the supremacy of the Catholic Church against the challenges presented by the Protestant Reformation.