Philip II's foreign policy changed significantly over the course of his reign from 1556 to 1598. Initially defensive against the Ottoman Turks, he had some successes including the victory at Lepanto in 1571. However, the wars were very costly. His policy became more aggressive after 1584, including sending the Spanish Armada against England in 1588. However, the wars in France and the Netherlands drained Spanish resources and led to its economic decline. By 1598 Spain was bankrupt after overextending itself militarily across Europe, marking the start of the decline of its golden age.
