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Although the reformation occurred only a year after Charles rose to power in Spain, and it remained an important issue throughout his reign, Charles saw the movement entirely in politcal, rather than theological terms. Charles' most significant enemies, from his point of view, were Catholic France and the Moslem Turks. As long as Protestant princes were willing to fight for the Empire, he permitted religious freedom to some degree, but he sought to prevent the Protestant doctrines from spreading within his realms because he believed the would lead to politcal dissentions.
There are a number of incidents that demonstrate these priorities, foremost of which was the fact that the Imperial army sacked Rome in 1527 and drove the Pope into exile because he allied himself with Charles' enemy Francis I. Charles also used Protestant troops in is wars against the Moslem Turks and came to the a Protestant prince during the Schmalkadic Wars.
Charles was born and raised in the Netherlands, but spent most of his time as a monarch in Spain, leaving his German provinces to be governed by Hapsburg cousins. He was not at first accepted by the Spaniards, but by reversing many of Isabel's reforms and allowing more autonamy for the nobles, he gained their support; largely at the cost of the interests of the Spanish peasants, who were taxed mercilessly to pay for Charles Wars in Italy and the Mediterranean.
It was also during Charles reign the the colonies in the new world began producing enormous amounts of Gold and Silver. Because Charles depended on these revenues to fight his wars in Europe, and because the Spanish nobles were bribed to be supportive of his schemes, an enormous bureaucracy of nobles living off new-world gold was established which eventually corrupted and destroyed the Spanish economy. Although Spain was exceedingly wealthy during the age of Charles V, the seeds of its ultimate demise were already sown.
Charles dedicated a great deal of energy and resources to fighting the Moslems both in the Mediterranean and in Austria. While his wars in Italy were expensive and benefited no one, all of Europe profited from his wars against the Moslems. He resisted the Ottomans while they were at the height of their power, and were a real threat to all of Europe. He had both success in his battles with the Ottomans, such as the sieges of Vienna and Tunis, and failures such as the Battle of Mohcz, which left Hungary open to the Turks, and the campaign against Algiers, which ended in abject failure. At the very least however, he led the tide against the Moslem swell at a critical time in history.
Although Charles V is often demonized by protestant historians, in fact he was reasonably tolerant and not extravagently corrupt. His wasteful and incessant wars with France were usually triggered by French aggression rather than his own designs, and his worst enduring legacy was the seeds of corruption and bureaucratic malfeasance implanted in the Spanish nobility, but that was perhaps the inevitable result of the enormous, unearned wealth infusing the country than it was Charles particular policies.
Birth of Prince Charles to Juana of Castile and Philip the Handsome | |
Death of Charle's Father, Philip the Handsome, leaves him heir to Burgundy and Austria | |
Raised to the throne of Spain on the death of his grandfather, Ferdinand. | |
Protestant Reformation breaks out in Germany | |
Civil War in Spain opposing the integration of Spain into the Hapsburg Empire. | |
Conquest of Mexico by Cortez | |
Diet of Worms declares Protestant faith in error. | |
Italian War breaks out when Francis campaigns in Italy to drive Charles from Naples. | |
Francis I captured at the Battle of Pavia, forced to surrender Italian claim. | |
Battle of Mohacz leaves Hungary at the mercy of the Turks | |
Charles V besieges and sacks Rome after Pope Clement joins forces with his rival Francis I. | |
Austrians resist the Ottoman Turks at the Siege of Vienna. | |
Conquest of Peru by Pizarro | |
Saint Ignatius founds the Society of Jesus. | |
Successful campaign against Tunis destoys the Barbary pirates based there. | |
Third Italian war between Charles V and Francis I is fought without resolution. | |
Fourth Italian war occurs when Francis I allies himself with Solyman. | |
Unsuccessful compaign against Algiers is a disaster for the Christians. | |
Council of Trent introduces reforms to the Catholic Church. | |
Schmalkaldic War puts down a Protestant rebellion in Saxony. | |
Final Italian war begins; Henry II of France takes Metz. | |
Abdication and retirement to the Monastery at Yuste. | |
Death of Charles V |
Image Links | ||
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![]() Charles the Fifth and His Friends in Marble in A Child's History of Spain |
![]() Charles the First in A Child's History of Spain |
![]() Visit of Francis I. and Charles V. at St. Denis in The Story of Old France |
![]() Charles V at the siege of Metz in Famous Men of Modern Times |
![]() Charles V at Yuste in Famous Men of Modern Times |
![]() Entry of Charles V. into Antwerp, 1515 in Greatest Nations - Netherlands |
![]() Charles V and Barbara Blomberg in Greatest Nations - Netherlands |
![]() The birth of Charles V. in Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain |
![]() Charles V in procession with the pope in Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain |
Charles V. of Germany in Back Matter |
Charles V.on his way to the Convent in Back Matter |
![]() They were to humbly implore the Emperor's forgiveness. in The Netherlands |
![]() The Emperor arrived, leaning on the shoulder of a tall, handsome lad in The Netherlands |
![]() Charles V. at Yuste in Historical Tales: Spanish |
![]() The Emperor Charles V in Historical Tales: Spanish |
![]() Francis I. Refusing the Demands of the Emperor in Historical Tales: Spanish |
![]() Charles V. Approaching Yuste in Historical Tales: Spanish |
![]() Charles V. in John and Sebastian Cabot |
![]() Charles V. and the Tory Prince. in William of Orange |
Francis I of France | King of France who was a patron of the arts, and was involved in the Italian Wars. |
Chevalier Bayard | Renowned French knight who was thought to embody the ideals of chivalry. |
Count Egmont | Powerful Noble in Low Countries during Dutch Revolt. Protested Inquisition and was beheaded. |
Leader of the Protestant Reformation. Excommunicated by Catholic Church. | |
Andrea Doria | Renowned Naval Commander from Genoa. Fought in the service of Charles V. Fought Turks and Pirates in the Mediterranean. |
Conquistador who landed in Mexico with a small army, and allied with local tribes, conquered the Empire of the Aztecs. | |
With only 160 men, conquered six thousand Inca and took control of Peru. | |
Portuguese explorer who commanded the first fleet to circumnavigate the globe. Died in Philippines. | |
Founder of the Jesuits order, dedicated to the Pope. Important counter-reformation figure. | |
Solyman | Most famous of the Ottoman Emperors. Extended the empire to the Balkans and North Africa. |