CHARLES V

Short bio

Charles V was born on 24 February 1500 in Ghent (Belgium). He was the first son of Joan (daughter of the Catholic Monarchs) and Philip the Handsome (son of Maximilian of Austria). In 1517, he came to Spain to be recognised by the Cortes [Parliament] of Castile, Aragon and Catalonia and pledged an oath before them, moreover, as Count of Barcelona. He engaged in a prolonged conflict with Francis I of France for European hegemony gaining diplomatic victory in 1519. His coronation as Emperor took place in Aachen in 1520. He would receive the following two crowns in Bologne (Italy) in 1530.

The continuing confrontations with France, especially in Italy, the Turkish threat in the Mediterranean and the war between Protestants and Catholics in 1531 took its toll on Charles V. For this reason, on 25 October 1555, he decided to abdicate the throne in Brussels and divide his vast heritage between his brother Ferdinand and his son Philip II.

After his abdication, Charles V travelled again to Spain. The place he chose to retire to is the Monastery of Yuste, in Extremadura. He ordered a palace to be built adjacent to the monastery. It was to be decorated with tapestries and paintings by Titian. He had 50 servants. Despite his desire to distance himself from politics, he closely followed affairs of state until the day of his death on 21 September 1558.

Signature of the emperor in his testament (Brussels 1.554)

Chronology

: 1500. On the 24th of February Prince Charles, son of the Archduke Philip of Habsburg and Princess Joanna of Castile, is born in Ghent.

: 1504. Death of Isabella the Catholic, Philip and Joanna monarchs of Castile.

: 1506. Death of Philip the Fair. Ferdinand the Catholic exercised the regency in Castile due to his daughter Joanna’s incapacity.

: 1517. Arrival of Charles of Habsburg in Spain. Luther begins the Protestant Reformation.

: 1519. Death of Maximilian I. Charles V is appointed emperor. Ferdinand Magellan begins the first circumvallation around the globe

: 1520. Charles V is crowned in Aachen. Uprising of the “comuneros” (co-proprietors) of Castile.

: 1521. Diet of Worms. Imperial Edict against Luther’s doctrines. End of the War of the Communities.

: 1522. Hernán Cortés conquers Mexico. The survivors in Magellan’s expedition return to Spain.

: 1525. Battle of Pavia. Imprisonment of Francis I in Madrid.

: 1526. Francis I is released following the Treaty of Madrid. Charles V and Isabella of Portugal’s marriage.

: 1527. Nace el futuro Felipe II. Saco de Roma por los ejércitos imperiales.

: 1530. Coronation of Charles V by Pope Clement VII in Bolgna.

: 1531. Ferdinand of Austria is named King of the Romans.

: 1532. Conquest of the Inca Empire by Francisco Pizarro. Suleiman puts an end to the Siege of Vienna with the arrival of the imperial army. The German protestant princess create the Schmalkaldic League.