The 10-year-old Philip and his one-year older sister Jakobea were then raised by their guardian, their uncle Albert V of Bavaria.

Even during the regency of his uncle and guardian Duke Albert V, the Catholic rite was reintroduced in Baden-Baden in the years 1570–71.

After he took up government, Philip's first decree was that all citizens of Baden-Baden had to visit church services, under threat of severe penalties.

The last witch hunt under Philip II took place in 1580; 18 women were burnt at the stake in the districts of Rastatt, Baden-Baden and Kuppenheim.

When Philip died at the age of 29, he left no descendants, and was succeeded by his cousin Edward Fortunatus, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern.