great+leaders+-+spanish

= Great Leaders = = = The Leaders that ruled the Spanish Empire were very strong and very clever. Before Charles gained his power, the Spanish Empire's only possession outside the borders of Europe was the Canary Islands. After Christopher Columbus discovered America, in the late fifteen century, Spain decided to develop their own empire in the "New World." During the sixteenth century, Spain gained control over large areas of the Caribbean. Instead of starting battles to spread their power and influence, the Hasburgs chose to use the union of marriage to tie their household to others. During the years that Charles V ruled the Spanish Empire, everything was powered by the spanish, even England appeared to crumble under Spain's power. Despite his overwhelming power, Charles did not succeed in his mission to return the Protestants to the Roman Catholic Church, he was still a mighty Leader. Their empire was one of the largest empire the world has ever seen. In 1516 the crown was inherited by Charles, who was Ferdinand II of Aragon's grandson, after Ferdinand's death. After Charles defeated the Castilian rebels, he became the most poewrful man in Europe. During this period of time it was said that it was "the empire on which the sun never set", also known as the "Golden Age." Charles I soon went on to become the emperor, Charles V of Germany. Charles V was the one who defeated the Suleiman in a battle in Tunis, begginning the Turkish decline. After Charles V gave up his thrown/crown, both his sons had inherited something from their father. One of his sons, King Philip II of Spain and Sicily inherited the kingdom, while his younger brother Ferdinand I became ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1558 Charles V died, and marked the end of the Habsburg Dynasty.

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Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire  http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/history/empire.asp  http://www.essortment.com/history-spanish-empire-beginning-end-21311.html  http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=1735&HistoryID=ab49

