Coat of arms of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coat of arms of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Armiger	Charles V
Adopted	1519
Crest	Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
Torse	Cross of Burgundy
Blazon	His maternal inheritance quartering his paternal inheritance
Supporters	Imperial Eagle and the Pillars of Hercules
Motto	Plus Oultre (Latin translation: Plus Ultra)
Order(s)	Order of the Golden Fleece

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor was a very powerful ruler in Europe. He inherited land and titles from many important royal families. In 1506, he received the Burgundian Netherlands from his grandmother, Mary of Burgundy.

Then, in 1516, Charles became the king of Spain. He inherited these kingdoms from his grandparents, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were known as the Catholic Monarchs. Finally, in 1519, his grandfather Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor passed away. Charles then inherited the Habsburg lands in central Europe. He was also chosen to be the Holy Roman Emperor.

Understanding Charles V's Coat of Arms

A Coat of Arms is like a special symbol or logo for a family, country, or ruler. It shows their history, lands, and titles. Charles V's coat of arms was very detailed. It showed all the different kingdoms and areas he ruled.

His "Greater Coat of Arms" was the most complete version. It proudly displayed all the lands and titles he had inherited.

What the Shield Shows

Charles V's Coat of Arms as an heir.

Charles V's Coat of Arms as a prince.

The main part of a coat of arms is the shield. Charles V's shield was divided into many sections. Each section represented a different kingdom or region he controlled.

• The top left and bottom right sections showed his Spanish lands. These included the Kingdom of Castile (a castle) and the Kingdom of León (a lion).
• These Spanish sections also included symbols for the Kingdom of Aragon and the Kingdom of Sicily. Later, symbols for Jerusalem, Naples, and Navarre were added.
• The top right and bottom left sections showed his Austrian and Burgundian lands. These included symbols for Austria, the Duchy of Burgundy, and the Duchy of Brabant.
• In the very center of these sections, there was a smaller shield. This smaller shield showed symbols for Flanders and Tyrol.
• At the very bottom of the main shield, there was a symbol for the Kingdom of Granada. This was a pomegranate fruit.

Other Important Parts

• Supporters: On either side of the shield, there were two figures holding it up. For Charles V, these were a two-headed eagle and the Pillars of Hercules. The Pillars of Hercules represented the Strait of Gibraltar. This was seen as the edge of the known world.
• Motto: Around the pillars, there was a motto: "PLUS ULTRA" or "PLUS OULTRE". This means "further beyond" in Latin or French. It showed Charles V's ambition to explore and expand.
• Crown: Above the shield was the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. This showed his highest title.
• Order: The shield was often surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. This was a special group of knights.

Features of the Coat of Arms

This section explains the different parts of Charles V's coat of arms in more detail.

First and Fourth Quarters (Spanish Lands) Castile and Leon Aragon, Navarre, Jerusalem, Hungary Symbol Meaning What it looks like Kingdom of Castile A gold castle with three towers on a red background. Kingdom of León A purple lion standing on its hind legs on a silver background. It has a gold crown. Aragon and Sicily Crown of Aragon Four red stripes on a gold background. Kingdom of Navarre Red background with a gold cross and chains. Kingdom of Sicily Divided diagonally. Gold with four red stripes, and silver with a black eagle. Symbol Meaning What it looks like Crown of Aragon Four red stripes on a gold background. Kingdom of Navarre Red background with a gold cross and chains. Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Hungary Silver background with a gold cross and four smaller crosses (Jerusalem). Also, eight red and silver stripes (Hungary). Second and Third Quarters (Austrian and Burgundian Lands) Symbol Meaning What it looks like Austria A silver stripe on a red background. Burgundy (modern) Blue background with many gold lily flowers. It has a border with red and silver squares. Burgundy (ancient) Six gold and blue stripes with a red border. Symbol Meaning What it looks like Duchy of Brabant A gold lion standing on its hind legs on a black background. Small Central Shield County of Flanders A black lion standing on its hind legs on a gold background. County of Tyrol A red eagle on a silver background. Bottom Section Symbol Meaning What it looks like Kingdom of Granada A pomegranate fruit on a silver background. External Decorations Symbol Meaning What it looks like Double-headed eagle A black eagle with two heads. This was the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire. Cross of Burgundy A red cross that looks like two rough branches. Symbol Meaning What it looks like Pillars of Hercules Two columns rising from the sea. They represent the Strait of Gibraltar. Charles V's motto, "Plus Ultra" (further beyond), wraps around them. Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire The crown Charles V wore as Holy Roman Emperor. Golden Fleece A special necklace representing a group of knights. This order was started in 1430 by Duke Philip III of Burgundy. The Burgundian Lands and the Golden Fleece In 1477, the land of the Duchy of Burgundy was taken over by France. However, Mary of Burgundy, the last duke's only child, married Charles V's grandfather, Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. This marriage gave the Habsburg family control of other important Burgundian areas. These included the Low Countries (like modern-day Belgium and Netherlands) and the County of Burgundy. Even though the main Duchy of Burgundy was lost, the Habsburgs kept the title of Duke of Burgundy. They often used the name "Burgundy" to refer to these lands until the late 1700s. Charles V was the leader of many knightly orders. But the Order of the Golden Fleece was the only one he regularly wore and gave to others. Images for kids Coat of Arms of Charles when he was Duke of Burgundy and King of Navarre, Castile and Aragon (Version with motto and supporters) Alternative design for the Greater Coat of Arms (1530-1556) Or shield version Variant used as Monarch of Naples Coat of arms of Charles V of Habsburg as King of the Romans. Escutcheon, Greater Coat of Arms Personal Coat of arms See also In Spanish: Escudo de Carlos I de España para niños