Unlike his illustrious and competent father, Philip II, king Phillip III of Spain delegated his royal authority in a <em>valido</em><em> </em>(Spanish: trusted or favorite friend), the Duke of Lerma, which caused a great deal of political conflict among the Spanish nobles. During his rule, an ever increasing of people ceased to work: they had properties in Spain or America (as some kind of investment) and made a living from the revenues of these lands. Also, the expulsion of the Moors (people of Arab descent) was ordered, which reduced the number of people economically, artistically and scientifically active in Spain. Also, after a series of successful military campaigns carried out by his father and grandfather (Charles V), the Spanish armies suffered many defeats. By contemporary standards, the truces that Philip III's Spain made with the Netherlands, England and France were a sign of failure, for European people at the time expected their governments to wage wars for prestige and profit.
