Emperor Charles IV.

Charles IV: Ruler of a Turbulent Century

In this latest biography of the Bohemian king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, the author presents the 14th century as a dramatic period full of political and economic crises, cultural unrest, and the search for a new, functional way to govern the Holy Roman Empire in northern Italy, southern France, and Germany, which culminated in the adoption of the Golden Bull in 1356. The book is based on a thorough knowledge and masterful interpretation of narrative and diplomatic sources, as well as a critical approach to the vast body of existing historical research. Rader takes a comprehensive view of Charles IV's personality, emphasising both his imperial rule and its connection to the structurally completely different reign in the Kingdom of Bohemia. Much more than previous research, he highlights the fact that Charles systematically began building a new imperial residence in Prague and linked the future of the Holy Roman Empire with the city. He also notes the emperor's support and patronage of the arts and education. At the same time, however, he does not conceal the dark sides of Charles's political life, his sheer pragmatism, his involvement in the persecution of heretics, and his calculated approach towards the Jewish population in many German cities.