Philip II of Spain inherited a vast empire from his father Charles V in 1556 that included Spain, the Netherlands, and territories in Italy and the Americas. This empire was difficult to govern as it consisted of separate territories with their own laws and privileges. Philip faced ongoing conflicts with France and the Ottoman Empire that strained the imperial treasury. Charles V left Philip extensive instructions on ruling his dispersed realms, but effective communication and control remained challenging due to the empire's size and slow travel.