Charles I of Spain was ruler of the Spanish realms from 1516 until his abdication in 1556.

CHARLES I OF SPAIN

Charles I of Spain provided five ships to Ferdinand Magellan and his navigator Sebastian Elcano on their expedition to find a route to the Spice Islands. The commercial success of the voyage, which became the first circumnavigation of the World, temporarily enriched Charles by the sale of its cargo of cloves and laid the foundation for the Pacific oceanic empire of Spain.

As the heir of four of Europe's leading dynasties, he ruled over extensive domains in central, western, and southern Europe, as well as the various Castilian (Spanish) colonies in the Americas.

On the eve of his death his realm, which has been described as one in which the sun never sets, spanned almost 4 million square kilometres.

24 February 1500

to 21 September 1558