Mary Hollingsworth: Charles V in Italy (1530)

In this sweeping tour of Renaissance century Italy, Mary Hollingsworth takes us to see the most powerful figure of the age: the King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, the Lord of the Netherlands and the soon-to-be-crowned Holy Roman Emperor - Charles V.

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Show notes

Scene One: Bologna, 24 February 1530, Pope Clement VII crowns Charles V as the Holy Roman Emperor, the last Pope to do so, marking the end of an 800-year tradition that stretched back to Charlemagne.

Scene Two: Mantua, 2 April 1530. Charles V is staying with Federigo Gonzaga at his beautiful court, they play a game of real tennis before sitting down in the great dining hall surrounded by Guilio Romano’s erotic frescos to enjoy an elaborate banquet.

Scene Three: Florence, 15 April 1530 (Good Friday). Imperial forces surround the city of Florence, leaving just one access point into the city at Empoli. Inside the gates, the situation is getting more desperate, food supplies are very low, but the spirit of the Florentine Republicans remains undimmed.

Memento: A piece of Florentine plaster daubed with the words “Poor but Free!”

Further reading: Geoffrey Parker, Emperor: A New Life of Charles V, 2019 (Yale University Press)

People/Social

Presenter: Violet Moller

Guest: Mary Hollingsworth

Production: Maria Nolan

Podcast partner: Colorgraph

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