Horoscope of Philip II

Astrology was all the rage both in the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance. The calendar pages of books of hours from this period typically contained a mixture of zodiac signs, constellations, and other mythical symbols in addition to the labours of the month. Elaborate manuscripts were created to aid in fortune telling, some of the most popular parlor games were based on astrology, and princes consulted court astrologers as a matter of course to make decisions and assure themselves of their power. Even a devout ruler like King Philip II of Spain (1527–98) did not feel that his piety precluded having a horoscope made for himself. His court astrologer Matías Haco created this intriguing and very personal manuscript full of astrological charts and tables in 1549, and his divinations and astrological interpretations still give us today a unique insight into the personality of one of the richest and most influential kings in European history.