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Which territories went to Philip II when Charles V divided the Habsburg inheritance?
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House of Habsburg
Ruins of the castle of Habsburg, or Habichtsburg (“Hawk's Castle”), built 1020, the original seat of the house of Habsburg, Aargau canton, Switzerland.
When Charles V divided the Habsburg inheritance, he abdicated his various titles and territories to ensure the empire could be more effectively governed. Philip II received the following territories and domains:
- Spain and the Spanish overseas empire: Philip received the kingdoms of Spain and their vast colonial possessions in 1556.1
- The Netherlands: Charles resigned the Netherlands to Philip in 1555.1
- Italian territories: Philip was granted the duchy of Milan in 1540, followed by the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily in 1554.1
- Franche-Comté: Philip also received this territory shortly after his father's resignation.1
While Philip inherited these western and Mediterranean lands, the Habsburg dominions in Germany and the title of Holy Roman emperor were transferred to Charles V’s brother, Ferdinand I. This division effectively split the house of Habsburg into two distinct branches: the Spanish Habsburgs and the Austrian Habsburgs.12