The Restoration of Rome Part IV: Charles V

At a time when bloodlines determined Kings and kingdoms could be acquired through marriage, it was predictable that someone would find a way to hack the system. Through generations of inbreeding and politically motivated marriages, the house of Habsburg cobbled together one of the largest, yet least unified Empires the world has ever known.

The power held by the Habsburgs would peak in the 1520s and 1530s under Charles V, it's helpful to begin several generations earlier, in 1356, when Charles IV issued a decree known as the "Golden Bull" of 1356 distancing Germany, more formally known as the Holy Roman Empire, from the influence of the Papacy. The relationship between European ruler and the papacy had been essential to previous empires lead by Charlemagne and Otto as explained in Parts 2 and 3 of our Restoration of Rome series. This Bull established how German kings would be chosen for the next 450 years.

The "king of the Romans" was thereafter to be elected by the majority vote of seven electoral princes. By omitting any mention of the papacy, the document virtually nullified papal claims to intervene or confirm an election.

More than 150 years later, in 1520, Charles V is crowned King in Aachen Germany. Charles had begun his political career 5 years prior, assuming rule over the Netherlands as the Duke of Burgundy. A year later, following the death of his maternal grandfather, Ferdinand II, Charles was proclaimed king of Aragon and Castile, eventually controlling all of Spain and its territories in the New World. After the death of his paternal grandfather, Emperor Maximilian I, Charles was elected King of Germany.

He now controlled an immense portion of Europe and beyond. However, there was little to unify this emerging empire. What common purpose could be held by conquistadors in the New World, princes in Germany and noblemen in Spain or the Netherlands? At this time, Charles assumes the title of Roman Emperor but was not yet crowned as such by the papacy—the rift established with the Golden Bull still existed. Charles recognized that religion stood as his best opportunity to create a cohesive empire.

"A fervent Roman Catholic, Charles hoped to unite all Europe in a Christian Empire."
However, a continent-wide crisis was fermenting which would cause both Church and State to renew their historic interdependence.

Only a month after Charles V moved to Spain, Martin Luther nails a document to door of the church at Wittenberg, Germany. Europe was thrown into crisis. Fast forward just 3 years and Luther is excommunicated. Having added ruler of the German states to his impressive resume, Charles seeks to end the crisis by calling Luther to the Diet of Worms.

Charles promises Luther safe passage and an opportunity to defend his ideas. It was his hope that Luther would back down.

After Luther refused to recant the substance of his writings and left the Diet, Charles drew up the Edict of Worms. With it, he rejected Luther's doctrines and essentially declared war on Protestantism.

His efforts in fighting Protestantism were not enough to keep Pope Clement VIII on his side. More concerned with maintaining his own fragile rule over parts of Italy, Clement shifted his support between Charles and his primary rival, King Francis I of France, eventually siding with the French King in an attempt to slow the spread of Habsburg rule.

Uniting his empire under the banner of Christianity would prove difficult with the head of the Catholic Church supporting his enemy. In 1527 Spanish and German troops sacked Rome. "The pope, having surrendered to the mutinous troops, was ready for compromise. . . . having made peace with Charles, met him in Bologna; there he crowned him emperor in February 1530. It was to be the last time that a Holy Roman Emperor was crowned by a pope."
Charles was a guiding influence on the counter-reformation, which sought to rectify some of the issues in the Catholic Church which had led to the reformation. While this would greatly alter the Church, his dream of re-unification would not be achieved.

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[ScapularSaves]

A missed point - Charles V was doubly Roman Emperor - on the one hand from Western Sacred Roman Empire (which you covered), and other of the Byzantine - Eastern Roman Empire as the Reyes Catolicos previously acquired the rights of Eastern Roman Imperial titular succession - making Charles the Most Catholic Majesty and Unified Sacred Roman Emperor. Theodosius the Great was the last man (also of Spain) to have achieved that. His Empire/Spain used the Double Eagle on their Flag during his reign just as the Byzantines - Eastern Romans did before the Fall of Constantinople. If Luther would have abjured and recanted, and things healed in the matter of religion, then a realized Roman Empire would of unified under Charles and turn attention to the Eastern Christendom for reconquista. I see others below making similar arguments. Also just saying Charles looked the part, meaning he reminds one of earlier Roman Emperors like Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius. He tried his best to bring a Pax Romana, but it seems some invisible hand(s) got in the way. Even this most serene man could not avert all its dangers which in the end caused some people to not join re-unification and hindered a very cerebral vision and orientation.

[tommasoraite]

I personally think that Charles v and the Renaissance should be studied more in school and should me a bigger source of interest, the culture, the warfare development, the iconic king and queens, and we still study the Russian revolution and napoleon.

[furkanaltun]

Thank you for this lesson, great work...

[miranda]

The quality of this video is mindblowing, would like to add that the paintings feelt better than the visual pronunciation of the Man

[carlosmarcial]

"Holy Roman Empire... Europe united to defeat the Ottomans who invaded Constantinople and to reconquer Palestine Holy Land, and reconquest North of Africa!!!"
Martin Luther: "Can you bet?"

[elwerouno]

Manuel de Godoy Álvarez de Faria Ríos 👑 (May 12, 1767 – October 4, 1851) Prince of Spain, 1st Duke of Alcudia, 1st Duke of Sueca, 1st Baron of Mascalbo 👑 greetings to the RÍOS brothers 👑 __ _

[andresmora]

CAESAR Carolus V. Sacrum Romanum Imperium.
REX Carolus I. Hispaniae et ejus finibus transmarinis.

PLVS VLTRA 🇪🇦

Deus Vult ✝️

[FranzBazar]

Yeah the Empire waned. For 300 years. But you know I’m sure you’re more correct than the facts.

[EricSaavy]

*At NO time did the
Christ, the Apostles or  Apostolic Church
EVER refer to the Church of Rome as a Harlot* 


5. Paul prophesied,
*THE GOD OF PEACE WILL CRUSH SATAN UNDER THE CHURCH OF ROME’S FEET*  Rom.16:20 


4. *Paul thanked God
for the Church of Rome*  and calls them the beloved OF God!!   (vs. 8)


3. Paul extended '
*GRACE & PEACE FROM THE FATHER and Lord Jesus Christ to the Church of
Rome*  . (vs 7)


ALSO,   "MAKING MENTION OF THR CHURCH OF ROME
ALWAYS IN HIS PRAYERS" . 1:9


2. GOD IS HIS
WITNESS  *Paul PRAYED WITHOUT CEASING* for the CHURCH OF ROME. 


1 The Church of
Rome's faith was " *spoken of throughout the whole world*  ". Rom.1:8


The Apostle Paul
wrote to the Church of Rome under inspiration of Holy Spirit these engraved
words forever in scripture, which cannot be broken!


*After Reading this,
the Sabbath keepers will just DESPISE THE EPISTLE OF*  *"ROMANS"*