The Empire of Charles V: Spain and the Holy Roman Empire
The Life of Charles V
Son of Philip the Handsome, Archduke of Austria (son of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy), and Joanna of Castile (daughter of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile), Charles was born in Flanders. Tutored by Adrian of Utrecht, he was educated in the Flemish court and received an excellent cultural and religious education. In 1526, he married Isabella of Portugal, effectively unifying the entire Iberian Peninsula under his family’s influence. They had three surviving children: Philip, who would later become King of Spain; Maria; and Joanna. Charles V retired to the Spanish monastery of Yuste, demonstrating his sincere Hispanization, where he died in 1558.
Inheritance and Rise to Power
Charles V amassed an unprecedented collection of titles and territories:
- From his mother, Joanna, he inherited the Crowns of Castile and Aragon, which included their Italian territories and extensive lands in the Americas.
- From his father, Philip, he inherited the Netherlands and the Franche-Comté.
- Upon the death of his paternal grandfather, Maximilian I, he inherited the Habsburg lands in Austria and was elected Holy Roman Emperor.
In addition to his own states, Charles enjoyed diplomatic and military support from England during the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I. The primary opposition was formed by France, which was also a major European power.
Internal Spanish Policy
When Charles I arrived in Spain at the age of 17, his Flemish upbringing and his foreign ministers, most of whom were also Flemish, caused widespread discontent in Castile. This discontent, coupled with the new king’s request to the Castilian Cortes for subsidies to maintain his empire (armies, viceroys, etc.), provoked several uprisings.
The Revolt of the Comuneros (1520-1521)
The lesser nobility who governed the communities sought greater autonomy for their cities and opposed the king’s European-focused policies. The major Castilian cities, led by Toledo, formed the Santa Junta (Holy Council) and appointed Juan de Padilla as the commander of their army.
The Revolt of the Germanies (1519-1523)
This was an uprising of artisans and peasants, united in guilds (Germanies), who committed acts against the nobles and rioted against the high bourgeoisie of the cities. In Valencia, the Junta of the 13 was formed, led by the carder Joan Llorenç. The Revolt of the Germanies is considered a civil war, fueled by general dissatisfaction with the king’s absenteeism. An alliance between the nobility and the king ultimately crushed the rebellion.
Foreign Policy
Charles V attempted to conduct a universal imperial policy. While he had the diplomatic support of England, he often lacked the support of the Pope. To maintain his supremacy in Europe, Charles V was engaged in several conflicts:
Wars with France
A major conflict was the confrontation with France, led by King Francis I, for dominance in Italy. They fought several wars:
- First and Second Wars: Charles V won significant victories, including the Battle of Pavia. His forces also sacked Rome in 1527. He achieved his goal of occupying Milan. The Peace of Cambrai (1529) marked the height of the Emperor’s power, and he was crowned in Bologna in 1530.
- Third and Fourth Wars: These concluded with the Truce of Nice (1538) and the Peace of Crépy (1544). Francis I died in 1547 without achieving his goal of dominating the Milanese.
- Fifth War: Charles V fought a fifth war against Henry II, the son of Francis I. The French king seized Metz, Toul, and Verdun. France eventually renounced its claims to Italy.
Conflict with the Ottoman Empire
Charles V faced a significant threat from the Ottoman Turks. The Turks, allied with the Barbary pirates of North Africa, frequently raided the Spanish and Italian Mediterranean coasts.
The Protestant Reformation
The reign of Charles V coincided with the religious upheaval known as the Protestant Reformation, initiated in Germany by Martin Luther. This led to prolonged religious wars within the Holy Roman Empire.