Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles V (Spanish: Carlos I, Dutch: Karel V, German: Karl V.) (24 February 1500–21 September 1558) is considered (the first) King of Spain though in fact was his son the first who used that title. He was king from 1516 to 1556 (in principle, he was from 1516 king of Aragon and from 1516 guardian of his insane mother, queen of Castile who died 1555, and the co-king of Castile 1516-55, full king 1555-56), and Holy Roman Emperor from 1519 to 1556. In Spain, he ruled officially as Charles I. Under the reighn of 1516 to 1556, Charles the 5th was the emperor of Spain, Austria, Italy and Germany, though he is referred to by the ordinal he used as Holy Roman Emperor more often. He was the son of Philip and Joanna of Castile. His maternal grandparents were Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. His paternal grandparents were Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Marie, Duchess of Burgundy.

Abdication and later life

In 1556 Charles abdicated his various positions, giving his personal empire to his son, Philip II of Spain, and the Holy Empire to his brother, Ferdinand. Charles retired to the monastery of Yuste (Extremadura, Spain) and is thought to have had a nervous breakdown. In the last two decades of his life he suffered from gout. He died in 1558. His grandson, king Philip III of Spain buried the emperor in the Royal Pantheon of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, northwest of Madrid.

Related Topics:
1556 - Philip II of Spain - Ferdinand - Yuste - Gout - 1558 - Philip III of Spain - Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial - Madrid

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