Charles V was elected Holy Roman Emperor and, until his death in 1558, he was to play a central role on the European political stage. The book is a clear introduction to the often confusing train of events in the first half of the sixteenth century. It looks at Charles's response to the Protestant Reformation in Germany; his efforts to retain the Netherlands under Habsburg control; his struggle with France for domination over Italy; and his attempts to check the expansion of Ottoman power in the Mediterranean.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES VIIGENEALOGY VIIIPart One: The Background 1I THE BURGUNDIAN INHERITANCE 12 THE HABSBURGS AND SPAIN 53 THE PROSPECT OF GERMANY 9Part Two: The Imperial Election ( 1519) 144 DISSOLVING HOPES 145 THE CAMPAIGN 16Part Three: Consolidation 216 THE DIET OF WORMS (1521) 217 THE COMPACT OF BRUSSELS (1522) 258 THE NETHERLANDS 279 THE COMUNERO REVOLT 3110 THE STRENGTHENING OF SPAIN 35Part Four: Italy and the Lutherans 38II THE IT ALlAN WARS 3812 FERDINAND'S REGENCY 44Part Five: The Standard-bearer 4913 THE DUTIES OF EMPIRE 4914 THE DIET OF AUGSBURG (1530) 5415 THE POLITICS OF CONCILIATION 5716 THE COLLOQUY OF REGENSBURG (1541) 6217 BEYOND EUROPE 64Part Six: War in Germany 6718 FINANCE 6719 THE DECISION TO FIGHT 7220 THE SCHMALKALDIC WAR (1546-47) 78v21 THE HOLLOW VICTORY 8122 DEFEAT IN GERMANY 85Part Seven: Succession and Abdication 89Part Eight: Assessment - Charles and hisBiographers 94Part Nine: Documents 98CHRONOLOGY 116MAPS 119BIBLIOGRAPHY 123INDEX