Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles IV (Charles John; 14 May 1316 – 29 November 1378) was the Holy Roman emperor from 1355 until his death in 1378. He was made King of Germany in 1346 after being elected. He also became king of Bohemia in 1346 after his father died.

Charles IV
Holy Roman Emperor King of Italy King of the Romans
Portrait of Charles IV, painted by Master Theodoric of Prague in the year 1368
Holy Roman Emperor
Reign	1355 – 29 November 1378
Coronation	29 July 1355 (Milan)
Predecessor	Louis IV
Successor	Sigismund
Born	Charles John (1316-05-14)14 May 1316
Died	29 November 1378(1378-11-29) (aged 62) Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia
Burial	11 December, 1318
Spouse	Blanche of Valois ​ ​ (m. 1329; died 1348)​ Anne of Bavaria ​ ​ (m. 1349; died 1353)​ Anna von Schweidnitz ​ ​ (m. 1353; died 1362)​ Elizabeth of Pomerania ​ ​ (m. 1363)​
Issue	Margaret (Queen of Hungary) Catherine (Duchess of Austria and Bavaria) Elisabeth (Duchess of Austria) Wenceslaus IV (King of Bohemia and Germany) Anne (Queen of England) Sigismund (Holy Roman Emperor) John (Duke of Görlitz) Margaret (Burgravine of Nuremberg)
Full name Charles John
House	House of Luxembourg
Father	John of Luxembourg
Mother	Elizabeth of Bohemia
Religion	Roman Catholic

Early Life

Charles IV was born in Prague in 1316 to King John of Bohemia and Elizabeth of Bohemia. He received a royal education and was taught languages, literature, and history. At the age of 10, he was sent to the French King's court for further learning.

Rise to Power

In 1346, following his father's death, Charles IV was elected as the King of Germany and Bohemia. He became the Holy Roman Emperor in 1355. Charles IV's reign was marked by efforts to strengthen the Holy Roman Empire and promote arts and sciences.

Achievements

During his rule, Charles IV oversaw the construction of notable buildings, including the Charles Bridge in Prague and the Charles University. He worked to maintain peace and stability within his realm and supported intellectual and artistic endeavors.

Legacy

Charles IV is remembered as a skilled ruler and patron of the arts. His contributions to European culture and politics continue to be celebrated. Charles IV's reign left a lasting impact on the Holy Roman Empire and the region of Central Europe.