biography
| name: |
Charles V (Emperor)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1500–58)
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| biography:
| Holy Roman Emperor (1519–56), born in Ghent, NW Belgium, the son of Philip of Burgundy and Joanna of Spain. He was made joint ruler of Spain (as Charles I) with his mother (1517), and was elected to the Holy Roman Empire (1519). His rivalry with Francis I of France dominated west European affairs, and there was almost constant warfare between them. In 1525 the defeat of Francis led to the formation of the Holy League against Charles by Pope Clement VII, Henry VIII, Francis, and the Venetians. In 1527 Rome was sacked and the pope imprisoned, and although Charles disclaimed any part of it, the Peace of Cambrai (1529) left him master of Italy. At the Diet of Augsburg (1530) he confirmed the 1521 Edict of Worms, which had condemned Luther, and the Protestants formed the League of Schmalkald. After further battles, in 1538 the pope, Francis, and Charles agreed at Nice to a 10 years' truce. Charles's league with the pope drove the Protestants to rebellion. They were crushed at Mühlberg (1547); but in 1552 Charles was defeated by Maurice of Saxony, and Protestantism received legal recognition. In 1555 he divided the empire between his son (Philip II of Spain) and his brother (Emperor Ferdinand I), retiring to the monastery of Yuste in Spain. |
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