Karl V von Habsburg
Holy Roman Emperor
(1500-58)

Other Titles

Carlos I, King of Spain 1516-56, abd
Co-king of Castile-Leon, 1506-55; sole king, 1555-56, abd
Co-king of Aragon, 1516-55; sole king, 1555-56, abd
Karl I, Archduke of Austria, 1519-21
Co-Titular King of Jerusalem, 1516-55; sole titular-king, 1555-56, abd

Biographical

From his father Charles inherited the Low Country dominions and Burgundy, and through his mother, her inherited Spain and Naples.  On the death of Ferdinand, 1516, Charles was recognized as joint ruler of Spain with his mother; and on the death of his paternal grandfather, the Emperor Maximilian, in 1519, he was elected Emperor of Germany.   Charles was now the most influential political figure of his time, and the rivalry between himself and Francis I of France dominated the history of Western Europe. The French were driven out of Italy.  In 1525 Francis again entered Italy, but was taken prisoner at Pavia, and was only released on resigning all his claims and pretensions. In 1530 he was crowned emperor.

Like his son, Philip II, Charles was a relentless opponent of Lutheranism. The Peace of Augsburg, 1555, however, compelled him to acquiesce in the establishment of Protestantism over the greater part of Germany. This blow to his hopes, and his declining health, led to his abdication in favour of his son Philip, 1556, and he retired to the monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste, in Estremadura.

Place of birth: Ghent
Place of death: San Jerónimo de Yuste