Portrait of Charles V by Titian emphasising his similarity to an Emperor of ancient Rone
Charles V (Spanish: Carlos I, Carlos V or "Carlos I de España y V de Alemania", German: Karl V., Dutch: Karel V, French: Charles Quint, 24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Carlos I of Spain, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his abdication in 1556.
Upon becoming the Holy Roman Emperor in 1520, Charles V embarked on military campaigns which led to him taking first Francis I of France (1525) and then Pope Clement VII prisoner. There was a revival of interest in Dante's political thought. Mercurino Gattinara, Louis of Praet and Alfonso de Valdés, for example, were courtiers of Charles V who promoted the idea that he was reviving the Roman Empire. The painting of Charles V by Titian also presents him in a heroic role reminiscent of of roman imperialism. Likewise Ariosto'sOrlando Furioso glorifies the reign of Charles V's ancestor and namesake Charlemagne who was also the founder of the Holy Roman Empire. Ariosto includes a prophetess, who describes how God kept the lands unknown to Romans aside, waiting for a new emperor to arise as world ruler, i.e Charles V himself.
