Karl V#
Karl V, b. Ghent (Belgium), Feb. 24, 1500, d. San Jerónimo de Yuste (Spain), Sept. 21, 1558, from 1515 ruler of the Netherlands, from 1516 King of Spain, from 1519 Holy Roman Emperor, grandson of Emperor Maximilian I, whom he succeeded as Prince of the Austrian territories. In the Edicts of Worms and Brussels he handed these territories over to his brother Ferdinand I in 1521/22.; K. kept Spain, the possessions in Italy, the Netherlands and America. At the time of his reign the Spanish Empire covered Central and South America. In 1556 he abdicated his imperial status, which passed over to the Austrian line of the House of Habsburg in 1558.
Literature#
K. Brandi, Kaiser K. V., 2 vols., 1937/1941; H. Lutz, Das roemisch-deutsche Reich im System K. V., 1982; A. Kohler, K. 1500-1558, 1999; W. Seipel (ed.), Kaiser K., exhibition catalogue, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna 2000.