Charles V by Harold Kleinschmidt

I'm fascinated by the Holy Roman Empire, probably because I'm fascinated by all things related to ancient Rome.  But the Empire, as its referred to in the book, is world's apart from ancient Rome.  And how is it possible that it technically existed all the way up to 1806.  The old saying is true:  The Holy Roman Empire was not Holy, nor Roman, nor an empire.

Charles V, as head of the Habsburg family dynasty during his time, held an incredible number of titles, including that of Holy Roman Emperor.  He spent his life trying to preserve and rebuild the dying Empire (and the Habsburg family dynasty itself) from disintegration into countless republics and nations and territories.  He didn't stand a chance, even under the best of circumstances.

As I see it, Charles had a few fundamental flaws which, admittedly, he shared with most of his contemporaries.  Only through the benefit of hindsight can I make these observations:

1. He believed in the rule of men and families over the rule of law.  He forged many laws during his life, but he didn't necessarily abide by them.  He believed his true power lay in his personality, his lineage and his titles.  That's why he spent (almost literally) his entire career on the road, traveling between his lands and centers of power.  Through sheer will and personality he would shore up one region's problems, only to have them return and multiply after his departure.
2. He didn't believe that multiple religions could co-exist within the same geographic territory.  One country might be Catholic (his own strong belief) and one might be Protestant, but no nation could endure both.  If the ruler of your country believed in the opposite church, then you must vacate that country, or suffer death.
3. His primary diplomatic policy (weapon?) was that of intermarriage of dynastic families.  He married of sisters, daughters and cousins with great rapidity and precision.  The royal family trees of his time were impossibly complicated.  His sister was married to King Francis I of France, his arch-enemy, as an example.  The idea was that the children of such marriages would swear loyalty to both regimes, and create the possibility that the resulting Habsburg child would inherit a new crown.  Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it created mass chaos (and crazy offspring).

Charles' vision was that of restoration.  He wanted to bring back the old Roman Empire, the old Christendom, under one universal ruler.  As proof, he showed no interest in the "new world" that was quickly acceding to his rule (as King of Spain).  He took the new world gold, for sure, but he used it to fund his many wars to try and restore the old world.

Still, Charles was deeply fascinating, as was his time.  His life and time were as complicated as the map pictured above.  The non-contiguous nature of his rule speaks volumes about his ghost-like power as Holy Roman Emperor.  His rule was breaking apart, piece by piece, region by region.

Next comes French king Henry IV.  Also an imperfect man, but one who saw beyond #2 above, envisioning a nation where varying religions could live side by side.  Can't wait to learn more!