Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Mai tsananin ibada, Philip ya ga kansa a matsayin mai kare Katolika na Turai a kan Daular Ottoman da Furotesta. A cikin 1584 Philip ya sanya hannu kan Yarjejeniyar Joinville wanda ke tallafawa League na Katolika na Faransa a cikin shekaru goma masu zuwa a cikin yakin basasa da Calvinists na Faransa. A shekara ta 1588 ya aika da rundunar jiragen ruwa don su mamaye Protestant Ingila, tare da manufar dabarun kawar da Elizabeth I da kuma sake kafa Katolika a can, amma an ci sojojinsa a cikin wani rikici a Gravelines ( arewacin Faransa) sannan kuma guguwa ta hallaka su yayin da suke zagaye da Tsibirin Birtaniya don komawa Spain. A shekara mai zuwa, sojojin ruwan Philip sun sami damar farfadowa bayan mamayewar da ba ta yi nasara ba ta Armada ta Ingila
zuwa Spain.