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Philip III 1578-1621
King of Spain

Born in Madrid, he was the son of Philip II (by his fourth marriage), whom he succeeded in 1598. Pious and indolent, he left government to his favourites Lerma and Uceda, and devoted himself to hunting, bullfights and court entertainments. During his reign, agriculture and industry declined, and foreign wars (after 1618) drained the treasury. From 1609 to 1614, 275,000 Moriscos (Muslim converts to Christianity) were expelled from Spain with serious economic and demographic effects. He was succeeded by his son, Philip IV.