Editing Philip III of Spain (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Retrato de Felipe III de España (Palacio Real de Madrid).jpg|thumb|Portrait by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, circa 1603]]
Following the death of Philip III's older half-brother [[Don (honorific)|Don]] [[Carlos, Prince of Asturias]], their father [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] concluded that Carlos's problems had been exacerbated by exposure to political factions at the Spanish court.<ref name="Feros, p.16">{{harvnb|Feros|2006|p=16}}</ref> He believed that Carlos's education and upbringing had been compromised, contributing to his mental instability and [[disobedience]], and he began to make more serious arrangements for his other sons.<ref name="Feros, p.16"/> Philip II appointed Juan de Zúñiga, then [[Diego, Prince of Asturias|Prince Diego]]'s governor, to continue this role for Philip, and [[García de Loaysa]] as his tutor.<ref name="Feros, p.16"/> They were assisted by [[Cristóvão de Moura, 1st Marquis of Castelo Rodrigo]], a trusted advisor of Philip II. Philip believed that together they would provide a stable upbringing for Prince Philip, and avoid the fate of his older brother Carlos.<ref name="Feros, p.17">{{harvnb|Feros|2006|p=17}}</ref> Philip's education followed guidelines established by Father [[Juan de Mariana]], emphasising moderation and personal discipline, with the goal of forming a king who was neither tyrannical nor overly influenced by courtiers.<ref name="Feros, p.17"/>

[[Tomás Fernández de Medrano]], in his ''[[República Mista]]'', praised Philip III's devotion to religion and the reverence he showed toward all its ministers, noting that he gave "great examples" of piety and virtues, even suggesting that he would surpass such legendary Christian monarchs as [[Godfrey of Bouillon|Godfrey]], [[Baldwin I of Jerusalem|Baldwin]], and [[Amalric, King of Jerusalem|Amory]].<ref name=":2" /> In his youth, "he imitates (as he does) King [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Saint Ferdinand]], displaying in his actions a miraculous combination of valor and holiness."<ref name=":2" />

Prince Philip appears to have been generally liked by his contemporaries, described as 'dynamic, good-natured, and earnest,' suitably pious, and possessing a 'lively body and a peaceful disposition,' albeit with a relatively weak constitution.<ref name="Feros, p.19">{{harvnb|Feros|2006|p=19}}</ref> Comparisons with the disobedient and ultimately insane Carlos were generally favorable to Prince Philip, although some observers noted that he appeared less intelligent and politically competent than his late brother.<ref name="Feros, p.19" /> Indeed, although Philip was educated in [[Latin]], [[French language|French]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] and [[astronomy]], and appears to have been a competent linguist,<ref name="Feros, p.17" /> recent historians suspect that much of his tutors' focus on Philip's undeniably pleasant, pious and respectful disposition was to avoid reporting that, languages aside, he was not in fact particularly intelligent or academically gifted.<ref name="Williams, p.38">{{harvnb|Williams|2006|p=38}}</ref> Nonetheless, Philip does not appear to have been naïve - his correspondence to his daughters shows a distinctive cautious streak in his advice on dealing with court intrigue.<ref>{{harvnb|Sánchez|1996|p=101}}</ref>

Philip first met the [[Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma|Marquis of Denia]] - the future Duke of Lerma - then a gentleman of the King's chamber, in his early teens.<ref name="Williams, p.38" /> Lerma and Philip became close friends, but Lerma was considered unsuitable by the King and Philip's tutors. Lerma was dispatched to [[Kingdom of Valencia|Valencia]] as [[viceroy]] in 1595, with the aim of removing Philip from his influence;<ref name="Williams, p.38" /> but after Lerma pleaded poor health, he was allowed to return two years later.

By now in poor health himself, King Philip II was becoming increasingly concerned over the prince's future, and he attempted to establish de Moura as a future, trusted advisor to his son, appointing his ally, García Loaysa y Girón, as [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toledo|archbishop of Toledo]].<ref name="Williams, p.39">{{harvnb|Williams|2006|p=39}}</ref> The Prince received a new, conservative [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] confessor.<ref name="Williams, p.39"/> The following year, Philip II died after a painful illness, and his son became King Philip III.