Saint Michael Overcoming Satan is the fifth tapestry in one of the most impressive tapestry ensembles acquired by King Philip II of Spain. Philip purchased the Apocalypse set in 1556, when he was in the Netherlands. The ship that transported the set back to Spain sank on September 8, 1559, while still anchored off the Spanish coast, and six of the tapestries were lost. Philip ordered replacements from the workshop of Willem de Pannemaker, who seems to have played a part in the initial weaving of the set. In 1561 Pannemaker delivered the new pieces and the two saved tapestries. Saint Michael Overcoming Satan, which bears the mark of the Dermoyen workshop, is one of the original two that survived.