The story of Charles IV began in 1316.
Born into a period of natural disasters, he would go on to lead a very successful life. Charles IV was a leader in politics who was the King of Bohemia and a Holy Roman Emperor during the medieval ages. Charles of Luxembourg was born in Bohemia on May 14, 1316, as the son of John of Luxembourg and Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia.
Charles was born into a family of royals, with his father’s siblings being Queens and his father’s father a Holy Roman Emperor. At the age of 7, his father brought him to France to be taught by the French court, to learn the world of knighthood. After his education, his father made him temporary governor of Lombardy for about 2 years until he would become, upon his father’s request, administration of Bohemia and Moravia. Later, in 1346, Pope Clement VI and King John set out for Charles IV to be elected by the Romans. John and Charles later went to France to fight in the Hundred Years War where King John died and Charles survived and became king of Bohemia.
A year later Charles had been officially crowned by an archbishop in Prague as King of Bohemia. As the new king of Bohemia, he defined the position of the king in the state, issued a new law of coronation, and founded the first university in Europe. After becoming king, he began to prepare an attack on Louis IV. Louis had previously been excommunicated and refused to accept Charles as king and repeatedly said he was the rightful king. Before Charles could carry out on his planned attack Louis passed away and his followers elected anti-kings until Charles could peacefully win them over. Many years later in 1354, Charles led his army to protect recognition of the House of Luxembourg and to control Bohemia and by the end of his reign, he had received the Iron Crown of Lombardy in Milan and in Rome. By 1355 Charles IV was the first King of Bohemia to also become a Holy Roman Emperor and King of Italy.
He announced the imperial constitution, better known as the Golden Bull. This stated a majority of electors was the only thing needed to elect the Roman king and this would be effective for the next 400 years to come. He focused on keeping people at peace and made great efforts to keep nobility content. Charles prevented a number of war conflicts and expanded the Czech kingdom while compromised nobility and monarch power. His reign is considered to be a “Golden Age” and he is referred to as the Father of the Czech Nation.
The rule of Charles IV was extremely successful and he continues to still be celebrated for his accomplishments to this day. He was a powerful leader in and out of politics who was King of the Romans, King of Italy, King of Bohemia, and a Holy Roman Emperor. He was also a patron of science and arts and learned 5 different languages in his life while being a husband to 4 wives and father to 9 children.
