Charles V was Holy Roman Emperor from 1519-1558; he was also King of Spain from 1516-1556, officially as Charles I of Spain, although often referred to as Charles V ("Carlos Quinto" or "Carlos V") in Spain and Latin America. He was the son of Philip I and Joanna of Castile and grandson of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile and of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Marie, Duchess of Burgundy.

It is hard to say what nationality Charles was. He was a Habsburg on his father's side, but he was not German. His mother tongue was French, being the language of the aristocracy in the Low Countries (modern day Belgium, Luxembourg, French région of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and the Netherlands), where he grew up. He made frequent stays in Paris in his youth, then the largest city of Western Europe which, like most aristocrats of his days, he thoroughly enjoyed. In his words: "Paris is not a city, but a universe" (Lutetia non urbs, sed orbis). He also famously said: "I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse." His first language was French, but he was a lifelong enemy of the king of France. His mother was Spanish, and Spain was the core of his kingdom, but he was not Spanish. He probably felt more at home in the Low Countries where he had spent his youth. In Spain he was always felt as a foreign prince, and never totally integrated.... More • http://en.wikipedia. ... an_Emperor View • Books • Images • Videos • Search Related • Empires • Holy Roman Emperors • Royalty • Statesmen • America • Aragon • Belgium • Brussels • Burgundy • Caribbean • Castile • Central America • Colonialism • February 24 • Flanders • Germany • Ghent • Government • Habsburg • Luxembourg • Malta • Netherlands • New Spain • Pisces • Reformation • Renaissance • Rulers • Spain • Trastámara • Valladolid • Vienna • All Events • North America • South America • 16th Century • Icons • People