Charles V Holy Roman EMPEROR

Male 1500 - 1558  (58 years)


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  • Name Charles V Holy Roman EMPEROR  [1, 2
    Birth 24 Feb 1500  [2
    Gender Male 
    Death 1556  [1
    Fact Emperor of Austria Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Name Charles I King of Spain  [1
    Death 21 Sep 1558  [2
    Notes 
    • Charles V (24 February 1500 ? 21 September 1558) was ruler of the Burgundian territories (1506-1555), King of Castile (1516-1556), King of Aragon (1516-1556), King of Naples and Sicily (1516-1554), Archduke of Austria (1519-1521), King of the Romans (or German King), (1519-1531) and Holy Roman Emperor (1530-1556). In Spain, though he is often referred to as Carlos V, he ruled officially as Carlos I, hence Charles I of Spain. He is also known in English by his French name, Charles Quint.

      He was the son of Philip the Handsome and Joanna the Mad of Castile. His maternal grandparents were Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, whose marriage had first united Spain. His paternal grandparents were Emperor Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy. His aunt was Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England and first wife of Henry VIII, his cousin was Mary I of England who married his son Philip.

      Charles V's reign introduced the first documented use of the styles of His Majesty or His Imperial Majesty. Because of his far-reaching territories he was described as ruling an Empire "in which the sun does not set".

      Combining in himself the heritage of the German Habsburgs, the House of Burgundy, and the Spanish heritage of his mother, Charles transcended ethnic and national boundaries.

      Charles was born in the Flemish city of Ghent and brought up in Mechelen by his aunt Margaret until 1517. The culture and courtly life of the Burgundian Low Countries was the prime influence in his early life. He was brought up to speak French and Flemish, but also added Spanish and some German [1]. Indeed, he was said to speak "Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to his horse". He could not speak Spanish very well, as it was not his primary language.

      From his Burgundian ancestors, he inherited an ambiguous relationship with the Kings of France. Charles shared with France his mother tongue and many cultural forms. In his youth, he made frequent visits to Paris, then the largest city of Western Europe, which he thoroughly enjoyed. In his words: "Paris is not a city, but a universe" (Lutetia non urbs, sed orbis). But Charles was also born into the tradition of political and dynastical enmity between the Royal and the Burgundian lines of the Valois Dynasty.

      This conflict was amplified by his accession to both the Holy Roman Empire and the kingdom of Spain. Though Spain was the core of his kingdom, he was never totally assimilated and especially in his earlier years felt and was viewed as a foreign prince. Nonetheless, he spent most of his life in Spain, including his final years in a Spanish monastery.

      In his youth, Charles was tutored by Adrian of Utrecht, later Pope Adrian VI. His three most prominent subsequent advisors were Lord ChiËvres, Jean Sauvage and Mercurino Gattinara.
    Person ID I21214  Main Tree

    Father Philip I The Handsome King Of CASTILE,   b. 22 Jul 1478, Bruges Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 25 Sep 1506 (Age 28 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Juana Queen Of CASTILE,   b. 06 Nov 1479   d. 12 Apr 1555 (Age 75 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Marriage 1496  [2
    Family ID F07046  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Isabella Of PORTUGAL,   b. 04 Oct 1503, Portugal Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 01 May 1539 (Age 35 years) 
    Marriage 10 Mar 1526  [2
    Children 
     1. Philip II Of SPAIN,   b. 21 May 1527, Palacio de Pimentel, Valladolid, Spain Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Sep 1598, El Escorial, Spain Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years)  [Birth]
     2. Joan Of HABSBURG,   b. 1537   d. 1573 (Age 36 years)  [Natural]
     3. Maria Of SPAIN,   b. 21 Jun 1528   d. 26 Feb 1603 (Age 74 years)  [Natural]
    Family ID F07047  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsFact - - Emperor of Austria Link to Google Earth
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  • Sources 
    1. [S01910] Blood Royal, Issue of the Kings and Queens of Medieval England 1066-1399 by. T. Anna Leese.

    2. [S03581] Wikipedia Encyclopedia.