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Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Image Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

In Spain was known officially as Charles I of Spain.

Gante, 1500-Yuste, 1558

He was the most powerful european monarch; in fact, he was the owner of a great empire. His government was characterized by constant bankruptcies brought about by many wars taking place because of his empire hegemony and religion. He visited his mother in Tordesillas several times, that's why he ordered to prepare some special rooms for when his place of residence was the Palace.

He was born in Ghent in the year 1500. His parents were Joanna and Philip. In 1506, he turns into Prince of the Netherlands when his father dies. Ten years later, in 1516, his grandfather, Ferdinand II, dies. Due to his mother's inability, he inherited the kingdom of Castilla and Aragón. He also was a king of Sicilia from 1516 to 1556, under the name of Charles IV.

In 1517, he gets to Spain for the first time in order to take charge of the kingdom and his grandfather, Maximiliano I, dies in 1519. A year later, in 1520, he leaves Spain to be elected inheritor of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire; however, he must collect money and therefore, raise taxes to achieve it. The royal policy of gold outflow from Castile and the fact that foreigners were provided with posts favoured Castile uprising in the "Comuneros'" revolt (1520-1521) and Valencia with "Germanías". (Comunero: follower of the Castilian Communities Party). Rebellions were put out in Villalar battle (April 23, 1521) and also the occupation of Valencia (1522) and Mallorca (1523). Once the revolt was put out, Castile would be its main support. After the revolts mentioned above, the courts of Hispanic kingdoms turned into an appendix of imperial politics.

The economic difficulties, the weariness of such a hectic life and his many gout attacks lead him to retire to the Monastery of Yuste (1556). 

Therefore, he renounced his imperial rights in favour of his brother Ferdinand and the Spanish Crown together with italian dominions and the Netherlands in favour of his son Philip II. He died in Yuste in 1558.