SPANISH CIVIL WARS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES V (1520-1523)

$25.00

Description

SPANISH CIVIL WARS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF CHARLES V (1520-1523)
By Prudencio de Sandoval, Translaated by Captain James Wadworth

Size: 8½” x 11”
Illustrations: none
Pages: 205
Price: $25

 

This work was initially written in Spanish by an eyewitness to many of the events. In 1652 it was translated into English.  In 1519 Charles, King of Spain, was in the competition to become the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.  It was only 27 years after Spain had expelled the last of the Moors and become a kingdom under Ferdinand and Isabella.  Charles was elected, besting the King of France, the King of England (his uncle), and many other candidates, becoming Charles V.  Problems began, however, when he sought the money to finance his trip to Germany to be crowned emperor.  His childhood tutor, William de Croy, Lord of Chievres, had become his principal advisor and was hated by the Spanish people because of his greed.  He used his position vis-à-vis Charles to line his pockets and being a Fleming, he brought many of his Flemish friends and family to Spain where he had them installed in powerful positions.  Charles’ request for money was too much and the people revolted.  For three years the various cities of Spain rioted, killed de Croy’s supporters, formed armies, and fought with the nobles loyal to Charles V.  This is a very detailed history of those uprisings, riots, sieges, and battles.  It may also be the explanation as to why, when the Duke of Alba was given the government of the Netherlands he implemented numerous destructive taxes that, along with religious issues, provoked the Dutch War of Independence.  To the Spanish, a Fleming was no different from a Dutchman and it was payback time.