Karl V. (1500–1558)

The year 2000 saw numerous exhibits celebrating the occasion of the five hundredth birthday of Emperor Charles V, the eminent Hapsburg, whose imperial rule was distinguished by an incomparable level of power and governance. It was under his rule that the Austrian lands were united in an extensive empire and economic sphere. These included not only lands in western Europe (today the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg), Spain, and a large part of Italy, but also the then known lands of South and Central America. This present compilation contains the results of an academic conference held in Vienna by the Historical Commission of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Sociedad Estatal para la Conmemoración de los Centenarios de Felipe II y Carlos V, S.A. The thirty-six leading specialists from various European countries and the United States present examined the topic of the reign and policies of Charles V. This topic includes the themes of self-projection, propaganda and the formation of tradition, the concept of governance, the communication, economic and financial structures, the relations between the Holy Roman Empire, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Americas, the opponents of Imperial policy and the legacy of the Emperor. Consequently, this volume presents the sum of the results of both past and current international research, while at the same time pointing towards issues needing future study.