Charles V

(1500–58)

   Monarch.

   Charles was the son of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna of Spain (the daughter of ferdinand and isabella). He was thus the hereditary ruler of Burgundy, Spain, the Netherlands, the Spanish-American colonies and parts of Italy. Then in 1519 he was elected Holy Roman Emperor. During his reign he was compelled to confront the growth of Protestantism. In 1517 Martin luther had nailed to the door of Wittenberg Church his ninety- five objections to the sale of indulgences. When he was not to be dissuaded from his position, he was placed under the ban of the Empire, but he was protected by the powerful Elector of Saxony. During the following years various compromises were debated, but in 1555, at the Diet of Augsburg, Charles was forced to concede the principle ‘Cuius regio, eius religio’ (whose kingdom, his religion), thus destroying for ever the unity of Western Christendom. He abdicated from power the following year, leaving his son Philip II to succeed him.

   M.-J. Rodriguez-Salgado, The Changing Face of Empire: Charles V, Philip II and the Hapsburg Authority (1988).