Why was Charles V important in the Renaissance?
Charles V played a crucial role in the rearrangement of power relations among Italian states. He ushered in a new period for Italian politics after his troops sacked Rome in 1527. Historians still differ in evaluating his impact on the political, religious, and even artistic life of the Italian peninsula.
What was a significant achievement of Charles V?
Important events of his reign include the Diet of Worms and the beginning of the Reformation; his defeat of Francis I, which assured Spanish supremacy in Italy (see Italian Wars); wars against Turkey under Süleyman I; the formation of the Schmalkaldic League; the Council of Trent; and the Peace of Augsburg.
What was the role of Charles V?
Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (Castile and Aragon) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy from 1506 to 1555.
Was Charles V successful?
Charles V, the most powerful man of his time, failed to achieve his dream of a universal empire, thwarted by the political realities of Western Europe. He also failed to stop the Reformation and although he bitterly opposed the views of Martin Luther he never acted against him.
Why did Charles V invade Rome?
The Sack of Rome occurred amid the Italian Wars which saw French, Spanish and Imperial armies (the armies of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V) fight for dominance over the cities and states of the Italian peninsula.
What was the ambition of Charles V?
A fervent Roman Catholic, Charles hoped to unite all Europe in a Christian empire. Not only did the French and the English prove resistant to the idea, however, but in 1517 Martin Luther nailed his theses to the church door at Wittenberg: Charles's ambitions foundered on the Protestant Reformation.
What territories did Charles V control?
King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles V became the most powerful monarch of his day, ruling over an empire that included what is now Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, parts of Italy and central Europe, and large areas in the Americas.
How did Charles V impact the world?
Charles V was one of the most powerful European rulers of all times, reigning over territories in Europe and the Americas. In his European dominions he had to deal with the challenges of the religious conflicts between Catholicism and Protestantism. He also waged numerous wars against France and the Ottoman Empire.
How did Charles V maintain power?
By uniting those parts of his empire, Charles successfully advocated and maintained Catholicism in Spain, the Americas, and the Netherlands. He was also able to improve the government within each part of his empire.
Why did Charles V split his empire?
Answer and Explanation: Charles V divided the Habsburg Empire because he decided that it was too large and that the task of managing it was too difficult for one monarch. Over the course of the early 16th century, Charles inherited one of the largest empires in world history.
How did Charles V maintain power?
By uniting those parts of his empire, Charles successfully advocated and maintained Catholicism in Spain, the Americas, and the Netherlands. He was also able to improve the government within each part of his empire.
Who said I speak German to my horse?
Charles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor: "To God I speak Spanish, to women Italian, to men French, and to my horse—German."
Why did Charles V give up the Hapsburg throne and divide it?
By 1556 Charles V was exhausted and he decided to abdicate (step down). Charles V always thought the Hapsburg Empire was too big to be ruled by just one man. For this reason, Charles V relinquished his thrown and divided it between his brother Ferdinand II and his 29-year old son Philip II.
What will Charles be called as king?
Following her death, her eldest born, Charles, made a statement acknowledging her death and the fact that his mother was deeply cherished by so many. Upon her death, Charles immediately became king, with his office, Clarence House, confirming that he will henceforth be known as King Charles III.
What did Charles V try to accomplish during his reign as Holy Roman Emperor?
Although establishing a universal empire was chief among Charles V’s goals as Holy Roman emperor, he was unable to do so. Protestantism’s growing m...
What were the greatest threats to Charles V’s empire?
Charles V spent his reign trying to maintain the integrity of the Holy Roman Empire against the many forces that sought to undermine it. An emergin...
Why did Charles V abdicate his rule?
Charles V abdicated the throne in 1556, apportioning his imperial titles to his brother Ferdinand I and his Dutch and Spanish ones to his son Phili...
What lands did Charles V inherit?
Charles V inherited a vast empire that stretched from one end of Europe to the other. He acquired the Spanish throne from his parents, Philip I and...
What was Charles V role in the reformation?
Charles V's role in the Protestant Reformation was to defend Catholicism. He was able to grow his Empire and make Catholicism the main religion, bu...
Did Charles V defeat the Ottomans?
Charles V. did not defeat the Ottomans. He assembled his army, known as the Holy League, filled with men from the Italian States and Spanish territ...
What is Charles V best known for?
Charles V is best known for being the King of Spain during the rise of the Protestant Reformation and the Holy Roman Emperor during the 16th centur...
Who was Charles V?
Charles V, byname Charles The Wise, French Charles Le Sage, (born Jan. 21, 1338, Vincennes, Fr.—died Sept. 16, 1380, Nogent-sur-Marne), king of France from 1364 who led the country in a miraculous recovery from the devastation of the first phase of the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), reversing the disastrous Anglo-French settlement of 1360.
Why was Charles' military situation precarious?
2, 1358, his military situation remained precarious because he still had to fight both the English and his archenemy, the King of Navarre. The treaties of Brétigny and of Calais (May and October 1360) granted to Edward III of England most of southwestern France and 3,000,000 gold crowns for John’s ransom.
What was John the Good's captivity?
France: John the Good. …John’s captivity, of the dauphin Charles (1356–61). Unpaid or poorly disciplined armies ravaged the countryside. The dynasts, nobles, and townspeople had new reasons to resist the monarchy. The dauphin showed no sign of adjusting to meet the crisis.
What happened to Charles in 1378?
In 1378, after learning of plots of the King of Navarre, Charles dispossessed him of all his French lands except Cherbourg. That December Charles made, unsuccessfully, his last attempt to deprive Duke John IV of Brittany.
When was Marcel assassinated?
Charles, in order to raise an army, left Paris to convoke an assembly of his supporters. On July 31, 1358, Marcel was assassinated.
Who defeated the Navarrese?
Bertrand du Guesclin, Charles’s brilliant military leader, defeated the Navarrese at Cocherel in May 1364 but was defeated at Auray the following September by the English-backed side in a renewal of an old dispute over the Breton succession. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content.
What was the purpose of the Estates General?
The Estates-General, convoked in 1356 to provide for the king’s ransom, demanded…. Western sculpture: International Gothic. …of monuments, especially for King Charles V, of which several effigies survive. This sculpture, while technically good, is somewhat pedestrian compared with the work of Claus Sluter, who worked for Charles V ’s brother Philip ...
Who Was Charles V?
In medieval times, it was very common for European royals to marry other European royals. Marriage was a political tool, so the continent was full of entangled family trees. Eventually, it seemed that all of these bloodlines would result in one person having a legitimate claim to practically everything. Well, that person was Charles V.
When did Charles V rise to power?
Charles V Rise to Power. As Charles V came of age, his legal claims to various thrones started taking effect. In 1515 Charles came of age and assumed rule over the Netherlands and other parts of Northern Europe.
What dynasties did Charles V belong to?
Charles V was born on February 24, 1500, the heir to three royal dynasties: the Valois-Burgundy dynasty of the Netherlands, the Hapsburgs of Austria, and the Trastámara of Spain. He was raised in comfort and was well educated, becoming particularly adept at languages. Charles was famously reported to have once said, ''I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.'' While this may be apocryphal, he did have a love of language as he is also quoted as once saying, ''As many languages as you know, so many separate individuals are you worth.''
What was Charles V's goal in 1519?
As ruler of Europe's most powerful international empire, and with several European territories already under his control, Charles V would begin to envision a unified European empire. A big step in this direction came in 1519, when Charles's grandfather Maximilian I died and left him the Hapsburg monarchy in Austria.
How long did Charles V rule?
Exhausted after nearly 40 years of ruling, he abdicated his thrones from 1554 to 1556 and died two years later.
What did Charles V mean by the title of the Catholic king?
It also meant that he had a real duty to be the ideal Catholic king .
Which empire was the wealthiest in the world?
Charles thus gained Central America's largest empire as well, and Spain instantly became one of the wealthiest empires in the world. This was compounded years later when the Spanish defeated the Inca Empire in South America.
What was Charles V's empire?
A member of the powerful Habsburg family based in Austria and Spain, he inherited far-reaching territories: the ancestral Habsburg family estates; the Spanish Empire ; the kingdoms of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Naples, and Sicily; the duchy of Milan; the Netherlands; and possessions in North Africa and the Americas. His empire was so vast that he owned roughly twice the amount of land as the king of France. Charles V dominated the stage of European and world politics from 1516 until his death in 1558. A man of enormous military talent, he endeared himself to his soldiers, and eventually even his Spanish subjects, by his courage and love of action. Next to him, Francis I, the king of France (1494–1547; see entry), and Henry VIII (1491–1547; see entry), the king of England, were but minor players on the political chessboard of Europe.
What was Charles V's problem with France?
Charles's other problem was the Spanish war with France in Italy. Called the Italian Wars (1494–1559), this conflict involved a dispute between France and Spain over territory in Italy. Spain and France had a long history of warring with one another, most recently over the rich and divided Italian principalities. An early key battle came in 1499, when Ferdinand II of Aragon had defeated Louis XII of France (1462–1515; ruled 1498–1515). Spain had established a reputation for an invincible infantry (soldiers trained to fight in the front line of battle). In fact, Spain's famed land troops did not lose a pitched battle for 150 years. Francis I, however, threatened Italy. In 1515 he had triumphantly defeated Massimiliano Sforza (1493–1530; ruled 1512–15), duke of Milan, at the Battle of Marignano. Pope Leo X (1475–1521; reigned 1513–21) and Charles V came to the aid of Sforza. The result was the tremendous victory of Spanish forces over the French at Pavia in 1525. Francis was humiliated when he was captured and removed to Madrid as a prisoner for more than a year. In 1526 he agreed to leave his two sons as hostages and married Eleanor, Charles's sister and the dowager queen of Portugal. Once he was safely home, Francis rejected the terms of the treaty he had signed in Madrid, and ransomed his sons for two million florins. Thus the war between Spain and France continued to rage in Italy.
What did Charles do to Luther?
Charles, in turn, rejected Luther's doctrine and thereafter considered him a heretic beyond the scope of rehabilitation. Declaring Luther an "outlaw of the church," Charles accused Luther of having misguided ideas and single-handedly trying to overturn Christian teachings, which had existed for a thousand years. The emperor vowed that he would do everything in his power to defend the Catholic religion.
What was Charles the Great's greatest love?
Throughout his reign Charles was a great lover of the arts, especially music. He ruled at the height of the Renaissance, a cultural revolution that began in Italy in the mid-1300s. The Renaissance was initiated by scholars called humanists who promoted the human-centered values of ancient Greece and Rome. Humanist ideals were soon influencing the arts, literature, philosophy, science, religion, and politics in Italy. During the early fifteenth century, innovations of the Italian Renaissance began spreading into the rest of Europe and reached a peak in the sixteenth century. Like all Renaissance monarchs, Charles sought to enhance his power by being a generous patron of the arts. Yet he was not the easiest of patrons to please. He took his famous chapel singers with him when he traveled and even kept them by him after he abdicated, or left, the throne. The groups's fame helped maintain the reputation of Flemish music for the rest of the sixteenth century. Charles also built a chapel for his wife and gave his son Philip, when he reached the age of twelve, a suite of musicians that included singers, instrumentalists, and composers.
Where was Charles born?
Charles was born in Ghent, Netherlands, in 1500 to Philip I (the Handsome) (1478–1506), archduke of Austria, and Joanna (called the Mad; 1479–1555) of Castile—a province of Spain and seat of the empire. Charles was the heir to a glittering collection of European titles and lands. His maternal grandparents were King Ferdinand II (1452–1516; ruled 1468–1516) of Castile and Queen Isabella I (1451–1504; ruled 1474–1504) of Aragon. His paternal grandparents were Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459–1519; ruled 1493–1519) and Mary of Burgundy (1457–1482). When Charles was only six, his father died. Joanna suffered from mental problems, which grew worse after Philip's death, and forced her to remain in her native land of Castile. Charles, along with three of his sisters, was transported to the household of his paternal aunt, Margaret of Austria (1480–1530), in the Netherlands. Charles spent his early years guided by two mentors, Margaret and his chamberlain (bedchamber attendant), Guillaume de Croy, the sieur de Chievres. The prince's guardians also assigned a priest, Adrian Florensz Boeyens (Adrian of Utrecht; 1459–1523), to serve as his spiritual guide. Adrian later become Pope Adrian VI (reigned 1522–23). Charles enjoyed hunting, music, singing, art, and architecture, but he despised learning Latin, Greek, or any other ancient language.
Who were the conquistadors in 1521?
In 1521, during Charles's reign, conquistadors (conquerors) went onto the mainland of North America. Hernán Cortés (1485–1547), a young and handsome noble lawyer from Spain, led a group of six hundred Spanish adventurers against the immense Aztec Empire in Mexico. Ignoring an order from Cuba's Spanish governor Diego Velázquez not to sail, Cortés spurred his men forward by burning their ships (which was their only route of escape) once they had landed on the Yucatán peninsula. Velázquez was trying to prevent Cortés from leading an independent expedition to the Yucataán. Cortés set sail anyway, and he burned his ships to prevent any Velázquez sympathizers from returning to Cuba. Cortés's astounding feat of defeating the Aztecs won tremendous lands and wealth for his Spanish sovereign. This was not the only help Charles received from the conquistadors. Francisco Pizarro (1475–1541), a former indentured servant, won a spectacular victory when he conquered the fabled Inca Empire in 1533. Landing on the Pacific coast of Peru with just 2 cannons, 37 horses, and 180 men, Pizarro accomplished one of the most incredible coups (violent overthrow of a government) of all time. The enormous wealth of the Incas was to fuel Spanish foreign policy well into the seventeenth century.
Who was the Holy Roman Emperor in 1530?
With their hostilities behind them, Clement VII officially crowned Charles as Holy Roman Emperor at Bologna, Italy, in 1530. Negotiations continued between the emperor and those of his subjects who had embraced the Protestant faith, but no headway was made. In 1535 Charles became the hero of all Christendom when he triumphantly captured a Turkish stronghold at Tunis (now Tunisia, Africa) and liberated thousands of Christians who had been held prisoner by the Turks. A year later he appeared before the college of cardinals (a committee of church officials, ranking directly below the pope, who elect the pope) and Pope Paul III (1468–1549; reigned 1534–49) in Rome to challenge Francis I. Charles thought the two should decide the fate of Italy through personal combat. Francis, who fancied himself a chivalrous knight throughout his entire reign, abruptly refused. Charles then invaded Provence, France, but operations quickly bogged down. Paul III interceded and brought about a temporary truce in 1538. That same year Charles rushed to Ghent, Netherlands, to quash a rebellion of local elites under the rule of his sister, Mary of Hungary (1505–1558). Again the emperor exhibited little tolerance for challenges to his authority as he executed thirteen of the rebels. Three years later Charles suffered a major disappointment when a large-scale amphibious (land and water) assault on the Ottoman base of Algiers, Africa, had to be aborted due to inclement weather.
Rise to power
Let's examine Charles' rise to power until 1530 when the pope legitimised his rule.
Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Biography
It was no accident that Charles V came to hold power over so many lands and territories. Born in 1500, his mother was Joanna of Castile and his father was Philip I of Burgundy. Charles grew up in that part of the world, learning Catholic doctrine from his tutors.
Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Map
Here is a map detailing the power of Charles V in Europe by 1530. By this point, the hegemony he craved was within his grasp. Now he had one of the biggest empires in history, rivalled only by the likes of Genghis Khan and the Mongols centuries before.
Coat of Arms of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor
Let's reinforce the power and prestige of Charles V by examining his coat of arms. It was an amalgamation of his different roles and kingdoms. Initially, you can notice the double-headed eagle, representative of the Holy Roman Empire (modern-day Germany and Austria, among other regions).
Charles V Holy Roman Emperor Accomplishments
Since Charles V was involved in so much during his reign from 1519 to 1556, it makes sense to summarise his reign as Holy Roman Emperor into a brief, but detailed list of accomplishments.
Charles V Holy Roman Emperor - Key takeaways
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V ruled over much of Europe including Germany, Austria, Spain, and parts of France and Italy.
What was Charles V's main goal in his reign?from britannica.com
Charles V spent his reign trying to maintain the integrity of the Holy Roman Empire against the many forces that sought to undermine it. An emerging Protestantism proved to be one of the biggest internal threats. Although the papacy lent Charles V military and fiscal aid in the fight against the Protestants, it was occasionally a thorn in ...
Who did Charles V fight with?from en.wikipedia.org
Charles fought continually with the Ottoman Empire and its sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent. The defeat of Hungary at the Battle of Mohács in 1526 "sent a wave of terror over Europe." The Muslim advance in Central Europe was halted at the Siege of Vienna in 1529, followed by a counter-attack of Charles V across the Danube river. However, by 1541, central and southern Hungary fell under Turkish control.
What did Charles do at the Council of Trent?from britannica.com
The Council of Trent did not open until December 1545, but Paul III had earlier offered Charles men and money against the heretics. When the Protestant princes failed to put in an appearance at the imperial Diet of Regensburg in 1546, the religious and political situation turned critical once again. Charles prepared for war. In a battle that decided the whole campaign and placed his archenemies at his mercy, the emperor (who had been attacked by the German princes the previous September) defeated the Protestants at Mühlberg in April 1547. Ill much of the time, he spent the following year at Augsburg, where he succeeded in detaching the Netherlands from the imperial Diet’s jurisdiction while yet assuring their continued protection by the empire. Also while in Augsburg, Charles drew up his “political testament” for Philip and reorganized the Spanish court. The Diet of Augsburg furthermore saw the publication of the “ Interim ,” a formula conciliatory to the Protestants but retaining the Roman Catholic ritual in general. Although Charles believed that he had granted far-reaching concessions to the people and the Protestant authorities in that document, his main concern was to make the Protestants return to the Roman Catholic Church.
What did the Roman Catholics condemn?from britannica.com
The Roman Catholics, however, condemned the Augsburg Confession —the basic confession of the Lutheran doctrine faith presented to Charles at the Diet of Augsburg —and responded with the Confutation, which met with Charles’s approval.
What did Charles do to conquer North Africa?from britannica.com
By taking up his grandfather Ferdinand of Aragon’s project of conquering North Africa, Charles endeavoured to undertake by sea what he had not done on land. The attempt to repulse the corsair (and admiral of the Ottoman fleet) Barbarossa (Khayr al-Dīn) was nonetheless no more than a marginal operation, since Charles’s capture of La Goulette (Ḥalq al-Wādī) and Tunis (1535) did nothing to diminish the strength of Süleyman’s position.
What was the purpose of the Estates General?from britannica.com
The Estates-General, convoked in 1356 to provide for the king’s ransom, demanded…. Western sculpture: International Gothic. …of monuments, especially for King Charles V, of which several effigies survive. This sculpture, while technically good, is somewhat pedestrian compared with the work of Claus Sluter, who worked for Charles V ’s brother Philip ...
What did Charles do in the Diet of Augsburg?from britannica.com
Also while in Augsburg, Charles drew up his “political testament” for Philip and reorganized the Spanish court. The Diet of Augsburg furthermore saw the publication of the “ Interim ,” a formula conciliatory to the Protestants but retaining the Roman Catholic ritual in general.
What did Charles V believe?
Unlike his father, Charles V believed that a king should consider the approval of his subjects before taking any decision. This view led him to approach many Norman nobles, including Charles II of Navarre, aka Charles the Bad.
Where was Charles V born?
Charles V of France was born on 21 January 1338, in Vincennes, France, to Prince John (John II) and his wife Bonne of France.
What did Charles assure to preserve?
In exchange, the young Charles assured to preserve esteem of the community charter and confirm the franchises of Humbert II.
Who was the constable of France in the 1370s?
In the 1370s, Bertrand du Guesclin was employed the constable of France. The French army under him battled against the English army in northern France with a frightening number of sieges, raids, and pitched battles.
Who fought King Peter the Cruel?
In 1369, du Guesclin once again fought King Peter the Cruel, defeating him at the Battle of Montiel. Peter was later stabbed by his brother Henry while in captivity. Following his death, the Franco-Castillan alliance was sealed and the situation turned favorable for Charles who could now resume the battle against England.
Who was Charles V's wife?
Charles V of France married Joan of Bourbon on 8 April 1350, at the age of 12. The couple had several children, including Charles VI, Joanna, Bonne, Jean, Marie, John, Isabella, and Catherine, who married John of Berry, Count of Montpensier.
Who was the Black Prince?
In May 1369, Charles V of France declared war on Edward of Woodstock , aka the Black Prince. He was Edward III of England’s elder son and heir to the English throne.
What are some interesting facts about Charles V?
Ruthless Facts About Charles V, Emperor Of Europe. Charles V , Holy Roman Emperor was born into the twisted world of Medieval royalty—and his dramatic life rivaled that of his contemporary, Henry VIII. Though Charles became maybe the most powerful person on Earth, his life was anything but classy. With his scandalous affairs and vicious feuds, ...
Who was Charles V's mother?
His Genes Weren’t Perfect. Charles V’s mother was Joanna of Castile, AKA Joanna the Mad. Though she stood in line two inherit the thrones of Aragon and Castile, Joanna was also infamously, well, mad.
What was Charles' childhood like?
He Had A Tragic Childhood. Charles’s childhood was cripplingly lonely. Apparently, “parenting” wasn’t very high on his mom and dad’s list of priorities. Not long after his birth, Philip and Joanna dumped Charles off with his aunt and went cavorting off to Spain.
What happened to Charles's mother?
It was the most power Charles’s parents had ever seen, but they didn’t get to enjoy it for long. Soon after they took the throne, tragedy struck.
How old was Charles when he gave his last breath?
He gave his last breath in the early hours of the morning on September 21, 1558. He was 58 years old. In his very last moments, he paid a heartbreaking tribute to the love of his life, Isabella, who he’d been mourning for nearly 20 years.
Why did Charles give up his throne?
By the end, Charles had to give up his throne because he could no longer pretend that he was doing a good job running his empire. He let the Protestant revolution tear Germany apart, he’d pretty much bankrupted Spain, and he’d lost countless men in his unending feud with France, which, we should point out, he was now on the losing side of.
Where did Joanna give birth to Charles?
Near the end of the night, Joanna was forced into a bathroom, where she gave birth to Charles right next to the toilets. From the beginning, it seemed like Charles’s parents didn’t want him getting in the way of their social life—and that didn’t change as the boy grew up. Wikipedia. 4.
A Teen-Age Ruler
A Young King, A Growing Empire
- When his other grandfather, Maximilian, died in 1519, Charles bid for the vacant throne of the Holy RomanEmpire, which his Habsburg ancestors had ruled for centuries. Although Francis I of France and Henry VIII of England were also vying for the position, Charles was able to count on vast sums in bribe money. A loan of 850,000 florins, or European gold coins, had been secured as bribe mo…
Spain at War with France
- Charles's other problem was the Spanish war with France in Italy. Called the Italian Wars (1494–1559), this conflict involved a dispute between France and Spain over territory in Italy. Spain and France had a long history of warring with one another, most recently over the rich and divided Italian principalities. An early key battle came in 1499, when Ferdinand II of Aragon had d…
Emperor Confronts Reformer
- When Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was only seventeen, an obscure German monk named Martin Luther presented his Ninety-Five Theses at a Catholic church in Wittenberg, Germany. In a now-famous attack, Luther listed his grievances with Roman Catholicism and initiated the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Among other issues, Luther attacked the church ...
Hailed Hero of Christendom
- With their hostilities behind them, Clement VII officially crowned Charles as Holy Roman Emperor at Bologna, Italy, in 1530. Negotiations continued between the emperor and those of his subjects who had embraced the Protestant faith, but no headway was made. In 1535 Charles became the hero of all Christendom when he triumphantly captured a Turkish stronghold at Tunis (now Tuni…
Patron and Retiree
- Throughout his reign Charles was a great lover of the arts, especially music. He ruled at the height of the Renaissance, a cultural revolution that began in Italy in the mid-1300s. The Renaissance was initiated by scholars called humanists who promoted the human-centered values of ancient Greece and Rome. Humanist ideals were soon influencing the arts, literature, philosophy, scienc…
Conquistadors Expand Spanish Empire
- As Charles was expanding his empire in Europe, Spanish explorers were extending his reach into the New World (the European term for the Americas). Spanish conquest had begun in 1492, during the reign of the Catholic monarchs—and Charles's grandparents—King Ferdinand II of Castile and Queen Isabella I of Aragon. Ferdinand and Isabella commissioned the Italian navigator Christop…
Charles's Legacy
- Although some scholars have pointed to the events of his last years as signs of failure on Charles's part, such a position is hardly justifiable. He ruled vast and widespread territories for forty years, adding immensely to his possessions by unparalleled successes in the New World. He kept Spain at the pinnacle of world power, a position it did not relinquish for one hundred years. …
For More Information
- Books
McGuigan, Dorothy Gies. The Habsburgs.Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1966. Rady, Martyn. The Emperor Charles V. New York: Longman, 1988. Young Charles V, 1500–1531. Alain Saint-Saëns, editor. New Orleans: University Press of the South, 2000. - Web Sites
"Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor." The Columbia Encyclopedia. [Online] Available http://www.bartleby.com/65/ch/Charles5HRE.html, April 5, 2002.