Charles V of Spain

Charles V (Ghent, February 24, 1500 - Cuacos de Yuste, September 21, 1558) was the grandson of King Ferdinand of Aragon. On his grandfather's death he became the next king of Spain in 1516 (He took the title Charles I). When the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian died, Charles was elected to succeed him in 1519. Charles oversaw the trial of Martin Luther.

Charles upheld Cortes’s claims to New Spain and supported the conquest of the Americas. He also commissioned Magellan’s Journey in which he circumnavigated the globe. During his reign, Spain financed the conquest, and colonization of Peru and Mexico.

In 1556 Charles abdicated and went to live in a monastery. He lived there until his death in September 1558.