Life & Times of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Quiz

Answer: Joanna of Castile & Philip the Handsome

Joanna of Castile was the daughter of Isabel I of Castile and Ferdinand II or Aragon who were known as 'Los Reyes Católicos' in Spain. These were the monarchs responsible for the Reconquista and eventual decline of the Moors in Andalucia.

Frederick III and Eleanor of Portugal were the parents of Maximilian I, who was the predecessor to Charles V. Ferdinand I was Charles V brother and successor to the Holy Roman Empire.

Answer: Adrian VI

Pope Adrian VI was originally born in Utrecht and hence the last Pope not of Italian origin until Pope John Paul II's inauguration in 1978.

Charles V was well educated and spoke many languages.

Answer: Battle of Pavia

Pavia can be found in modern day Lombardy and was the location of a decisive victory for Charles V. A year after the battle, Charles V compelled Francis I to sign the Treaty of Madrid. The stipulations of this treaty forced Francis to relinquish any claim he has to any Italian province. This treaty also ceded Burgundy to Charles V, making it a significant victory in these wars.

Answer: Shah Ismail of Safavid Empire

The Habsburgs and the Persians shared a common enemy; the Turkish Ottomans. Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire made great gains during his tenure, involving many sieges, including the 1529 Vienna siege. It was essential to forge this Habsburg-Persian alliance in response to the Ottoman and French threat.

Answer: Mandibular Prognathism

Mandibular Prognathism is more commonly known the Habsburg Jaw because of the abnormally protruding jaw that accompanies this disease.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder which contains symptoms of disturbed thought processes and the potential for suicide.

Acromegaly is a disease where the body grows to an abnormally large size.

Alopecia is the condition whereby an individual may lose some or all of their hair which may be environmental or genetic in nature.

Answer: Trent

The Council of Trent met in 1545 and was referred to as the 'Counter-Reformation'. It was key in Charles V endeavours to battle against what he believed to be heretical theological positions.

Answer: 1555

Charles V abdicated on Tuesday, 25th October 1555.

He permitted his brother Ferdinand to become Holy Roman Emperor, while his Spanish possessions went to his son, Phillip II.

After this transference of power, Charles moved to Extremadura in Spain to finally retire.

Answer: Francisco Pizarro

Hernan Cortez conquered the Aztecs.

Ferdinand Magellan died on the way to discover a route to India.

Answer: Mary I

Mary I was Queen of England from 1553-1558, and known as Bloody Mary due to her persecution of Protestants. After her death, her successor Elizabeth I restored Protestantism.

Answer: Malaria

On 21st September 1558, Charles V died of malaria. This is a disease caused by the Plasmodium genus. Charles did actually suffer from epilepsy, but did not die from it.

His reign saw the Protestant Reformation, the conquest of the New World, the Italian Wars, and many other significant 16th century events for which he remained at the centre.