ThePax Hispanica (Latin for "Spanish Peace") refers to a period of twenty-three years from 1598 to 1621, whenSpain disengaged from theEuropean wars of religion that characterised the previous century. Peace was signed with theKingdom of France, theKingdom of England, and theDutchUnited Provinces.^[1] This roughly corresponds to the rule ofPhilip III of Spain.

Peace was achieved by several treaties:

• 1598: ThePeace of Vervins ended Spanish involvement in theFrench Wars of Religion. Spain had been at war with France, with only brief respites, since theSecond Italian War of 1499.
• 1604: TheTreaty of London concluded theAnglo-Spanish War on terms largely favourable to Spain.
• 1609: TheTwelve Years' Truce halted the fighting in theSpanish Netherlands.
• 1610:Henry IV of France was assassinated.

The Pax Hispanica (1598-1621) comprises the two peaceful decades of theSpanish Golden Age (1492-1661), a distinct and broader concept marked by wars of conquest in the Americas and the involvement in several European conflicts. The Spanish Golden Age began as Spain established its empire underIsabella I andFerdinand II and continued with the Habsburg monarchsCharles I,Philip II,Philip III, andPhilip IV. Under the Habsburgs, the use of force as part of Spanish colonial policies in the Americas was reviewed following theValladolid Debate, but Spain became more and more involved in theEuropean wars of religion.^[2][3]

Under Philip II, Spain was the foremostgreat power and had become involved in conflicts with the Dutch, the English, and the French. In 1579, the Dutch founded theUtrecht Union after the reconquest by Spain of many territories in the Dutch provinces byAlexander Farnese.

The following year, the Spanish Monarchy achieved, for the first time since the Muslim conquest, the territorial unity of theIberian Peninsula through apersonal union with theKingdom of Portugal, thus creating theIberian Union (1580–1640). After capturingOstend fromSpinola, the Dutch continued their rebellion, finally achieving independence during the reign ofPhilip III of Spain.

After this, Spain held the peace in Europe for nine more years, when theTwelve Years' Truce ended. The peace ended when Spain got involved in theThirty Years' War asFerdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, was compelled to call on his nephew, KingPhilip IV of Spain, for assistance.

• Paul C. Allen (2000).Philip III and the Pax Hispanica, 1598–1621: The Failure of Grand Strategy. Yale University Press.

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