Spain in the 16th Century

Ferdinand died on Jan. 23, 1516, and the crowns of the Spanish kingdoms devolved on his grandson, Charles I (1516-56), the ruler of the Netherlands and heir to the Habsburg dominions in Austria and southern Germany. When Charles arrived in Spain, in September 1517, the country was apprehensive of the rule of a foreigner. Charles, inexperienced, speaking no Spanish, and surrounded by Burgundian councillors and courtiers, did not initially make a good impression. The different Cortes of Castile, Aragon, and Catalonia granted his financial demands but attached to them much pointed advice and criticism.

On June 28, 1519, Charles was elected Holy Roman emperor as Charles V and prepared to go to Germany. As Charles set sail (May 20, 1520), the Castilian revolution had already begun. The towns, led by Toledo, formed a league and set up a revolutionary government. When the more radical and popular elements in the cities were gaining control of the comunero movement and beginning to spread it to the nobles' estates did the nobles combine to raise an army and defeat the comunero forces at Villalar (April 23, 1521).