The Resume

(February 24, 1500-September 21, 1558)
Holy Roman Emperor (1519-1558)
King of Spain (1516-1556)
Member of the House of Hasburg

Why he might be annoying:

He was neither German nor Spanish.
In fact, it's difficult to say what nationality he was!
His first language was French, but he was a lifelong enemy of the Kings of France.
He said: 'I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men and German to my horse.'
Although Spain was the core of his empire, he felt like a stranger in his house.
He fought many wars with France and the Ottoman Empire.
If that wasn't enough, peasant revolts in the Holy Roman Empire and the Schmalkaldic League (an alliance of German Protestant Princes) were giving him more headaches.
He sacked Rome to keep the Pope Clement VII from annulling King Henry VIII's marriage to his aunt Catherine of Aragon (1527).
He called Martin Luther to appear at the Diet of Worms and declared him an outlaw.
He couldn't crush Protestantism in the Holy Roman Empire, so he was forced to make a compromise at the Peace of Augsburg (1555).

Why he might not be annoying:

He died after suffering gout during the last two decades of his life.
He made the Netherlands an entity separate from both France and his own empire (1548).
To him, the Low Countries were his real home.
As a youth, he enjoyed his frequent stays in Paris.
He commented on Paris: 'Paris is not a city, but a universe (Lutetia non urbs, sed orbis).'
He retired to a monastery in Spain.
He abdicated his throne, giving the Spanish Empire to son Phillip II, and the Holy Roman Empire to his brother Ferdinand I.

Credit: Jeff

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Holy Roman Emperors
• House of Hapsburg
• I Got Gout
• Jeff's Profiles [Series 1]
• Look at Me, I'm Armed
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing an Aluminum Suit
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Monarchs, Royalty and Nobles
• Profiles 13251-13500 (Ranked: 13422)
• Renaissance Men (and Women)
• Spanish Royalty

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 111 Votes: 42.34% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 88 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 84 Votes: 58.33% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 80 Votes: 52.50% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 142 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 77 Votes: 68.83% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 214 Votes: 56.54% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 66 Votes: 53.03% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 100 Votes: 57.00% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 77 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 85 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 29 Votes: 58.62% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 59 Votes: 76.27% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 66 Votes: 69.70% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 178 Votes: 66.29% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 171 Votes: 63.16% Annoying