Emperor Charles V

Emperor Charles V was one of the most important ruling personalities in European history. The lottery of birth placed Charles at the center of a genealogical network that covered half Europe. His father, Philip, was Duke of Burgundy. His grandfather was Emperor Maximilian of Austria. His mother, Joanna, was daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand, Spain's Catholic monarchs. The reign of Charles V coincides with the beginning of the Modern Age and is marked by the Renaissance, by the spread of printed material, the discovery of the Americas, and by the Reformation started by Martin Luther.

Through his mother, he would inherit Spain and the bloodstained kingdom of Naples as well. Charles, archduke of Austria and King of Spain becomes Emperor Charles V, the most powerful ruler in Europe. As the King of Spain, Naples and Sicily, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, ruler of Flanders, the Netherlands and large areas of Central and South America, the sun virtually never set on Charles empire. For the first time, Europe became the center of a world empire. However, Charles failed to achieve unity across the whole continent.

Charles V greatness was not entirely of his own making. It was largely the creation of his grandfather, the Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). At first, Charles was a puppet in the hands of his ministers and advisors. Slowly, he began to assert himself and take control. From the very outset of his reign, he was faced by the situation created by Martin Luther's ag

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e war with France prevented him from checking the spread of Luther's doctrines (Gritch, 36). In 1527, Rome was in the grip of bleak despair. Charles V enraged was enraged over arrears in pay and his army burned and looted its way through Rome torturing and killing thousands. The Pope, some Cardinals and about 3,000 Romans found refuge in their castle. Troops of Charles V soon captured Pope Clement VII. (McPeak, 42). According to Sinclair Atkins, in 1529 the Turks began an invasion intended to capture Vienna. By this time, Charles V had resolved many of the internal controversies as was in a strong military position to oppose the Turk invaders. Matters finally came to a head in 1532 when Charles V and his army of 100,000 decided to retake Vienna. When the Turkish Sultan learned that Charles himself had taken command of the army he opted to retreat. Charles entered the city triumphant to the praise and acclaim of the residents. In July of 1533, the Sultan sued for peace and a treaty was signed with Ferdinand of Spain. Charles V was not a party to the negotiations or a signatory to that treaty (Atkins, 367). According to Nathan Rein, the battle of Mnhlberg in April of 1547, began a brief period of dominance of German af

Category: History - E