Horoscope of Philip II

A rare incunabulum, an early printed book originating from before 1501, gives detailed insight into the personal character of one of the richest, most powerful, most influential kings in European history: Philip II of Spain (1527–98). Created by Matías Haco, Philip’s court astrologist, and published in 1549, the work fills in the spaces left blank by official records. The King’s horoscope made a deep impression on Haco, in it he saw singularity and importance portending a great destiny. These predictions are astonishingly confirmed by details of the King’s biography, which flies in the face of our modern prejudice against the pseudo-science. Regardless of the actual prophetic accuracy of the text, it nonetheless gives an accurate and intimate glimpse into the personality of the future monarch.