minervacasterly:21 SEPTEMBER 1558: Charles Habsburg died in Extramadura, Spain. Philip II was away a

minervacasterly:21 SEPTEMBER 1558: Charles Habsburg died in Extramadura, Spain. Philip II was away at the time of his father’s death so he didn’t receive the news until the first of November. His wife (Mary I) died seventeen days later with Cardinal Pole also dying on that day.Charles Habsburg had come as a teenager to Spain with little to no knowledge of his new dominions. Many distrusted him and it didn’t help that he started appointing foreigners to important positions, as well as leaving them in charge when he was away. It was one of the reasons why his marriage to the beautiful Isabella of Portugal helped him because being a Portuguese Princess and of an old and well-established House (the House of Avis) helped him gain popularity. The two were the power couple of Western Europe of their day. Charles trusted Isabella in everything, including their children’s education and when he was away, he left her in charge.After her death in 1539, he became depressed but still active, tending to matters of state whenever he could. As his health began to fail him, he began thinking of early retirement and in October of 1555 he gave a long speech in Brussels before his son and other important people, where he declared that he would abdicate in his favor. The Empire would be left to his brother (Ferdinand) and his family after he died, and his Spanish dominions would pass on to his son on his abdication. The following year in January he did just that and Philip of Asturias became Philip (II) of Spain.Charles’ hobby in his old age was building clocks. (Not a bad hobby if you think about it. Although I wouldn’t have the patience for that, but good for him!) It was said that after receiving the news of his father’s death and then his wife’s death a month later, destroyed Philip and he grieved for both of them deeply. Henry Kamen cites one important source which says that in December, after receiving the news of her death; Philip became distraught and sent the Count of Feria to Elizabeth to see if she would protect the Catholic religionMore than two decades after his death, his tomb was moved to the Monastery of El Escorial where he still rests.Recommended reading: Philip of Spain by Henry Kamen and The Imprudent King by Geoffrey Parker. -- source link

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