Editing Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

== Legacy ==
{{Main|Cultural depictions of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor}}

=== Evaluation ===

The reign of Charles IV was characterized by a transformation in the nature of the Empire and is remembered as the [[Golden Age]] of Bohemia. He promulgated the [[Golden Bull of 1356]] whereby the succession to the imperial title was laid down, which held for the next four centuries.

He also organized the states of the empire into peace-keeping [[confederations]]. In these, the Imperial cities figured prominently. The Swabian Landfriede confederation of 1370 was made up almost entirely of [[Free imperial city|Imperial Cities]]. At the same time, the leagues were organized and led by the crown and its agents. As with the electors, the cities that served in these leagues were given privileges to aid in their efforts to keep the peace.

He assured his dominance over the eastern borders of the Empire through succession treaties with the [[Habsburg]]s and the purchase of Brandenburg. He also claimed imperial lordship over the [[Crusades|crusader]] states of [[Prussia]] and [[Livonia]].

In 2005 Charles IV ranked the first in the TV show ''[[Největší Čech]]'', the Czech [[Greatest Britons spin-offs|spin-off of the BBC ''Greatest Britons'' show]].

=== Patronage of culture and the arts ===

[[File:Karl IV HRR.jpg|thumb|upright|Statue of Charles IV near [[Charles Bridge]] (1848), Prague, by [[Ernst Julius Hähnel]]]]

[[Prague]] became the capital of the Holy Roman Empire during the reign of Charles IV. The name of the royal founder and patron remains on many monuments and institutions, for example [[Charles University]], [[Charles Bridge]], [[Charles Square]]. [[Czech Gothic architecture|High Gothic]] [[Prague Castle]] and part of the [[Saint Vitus Cathedral|cathedral of Saint Vitus]] by [[Peter Parler]] were also built under his patronage.  Finally, the first flowering of manuscript painting in Prague dates from Charles's reign. In the present [[Czech Republic]], he is still regarded as ''[[Pater Patriae]]'' ([[Father of the Nation|father of the country]] or ''otec vlasti''), a title first coined by [[Adalbertus Ranconis de Ericinio]] at his funeral.

Charles also had strong ties to [[Nuremberg]], staying within its city walls 52 times and thereby strengthening its reputation amongst German cities.  Charles was the patron of the [[Nuremberg Frauenkirche]], built between 1352 and 1362 (the architect was likely [[Peter Parler]]), where the imperial court worshipped during its stays in Nuremberg.

Charles's imperial policy was focused on the dynastic sphere and abandoned the lofty ideal of the Empire as a universal monarchy of [[Christendom]]. In 1353, he granted the [[Duchy of Luxembourg]] to his half-brother, [[Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg|Wenceslaus]]. He concentrated his energies chiefly on the economic and intellectual development of Bohemia, where he founded the university in 1348 and encouraged the [[Renaissance humanism|early humanists]]. He corresponded with [[Petrarch]] and invited him to visit the royal residence in Prague, whilst the Italian hoped – to no avail – to see Charles move his residence to Rome and reawaken tradition of the [[Roman Empire]].

Charles's sister [[Bonne of Bohemia|Bona]] married the eldest son of [[Philip&nbsp;VI of France]], the future [[John&nbsp;II of France]], in 1335. Thus, Charles was the maternal uncle of [[Charles&nbsp;V of France]], who solicited his relative's advice at [[Metz]] in 1356 during the [[Parisian Revolt]]. This family connection was celebrated publicly when Charles made a solemn visit to his nephew in 1378, just months before his death. A detailed account of the occasion, enriched by many splendid miniatures, can be found in Charles V's copy of the ''[[Grandes Chroniques de France]]''.

=== Castles ===

Castles built or established by Charles IV:<ref>[http://www.minulost.org/archiv/48/karel-iv-cesky-kral Karel IV. – český král]</ref>

* [[Karlštejn]], 1348–1355 in [[Central Bohemian Region]] for safekeeping the [[Imperial Regalia]], especially the [[Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire]] (later the [[Czech Crown Jewels]] were also kept there)
* [[Kašperk Castle|Kašperk]] (Karlsberg), 1356 in [[Kašperské Hory]] in [[Plzeň Region]]
* [[Lauf Castle|Lauf]] (Wenzelsburg) – built on the way connecting [[Prague]] and [[Nuremberg]] in [[Bohemian Palatinate]], inside survived 112 coats of arms of the Bohemian Kingdom
* [[Montecarlo, Tuscany|Montecarlo]] in Italy
* [[Radyně Castle|Radyně]] (Karlskrone) – around 1360 in Plzeň Region
* [[Hrádek u Purkarce]] (Karlshaus) – around 1357
* [[Tepenec Castle|Tepenec]] (Twingenberg, Karlsburg) in [[Jívová]] in [[Olomouc Region]]
* [[Karlsfried]]

=== Places named after Charles IV ===

; Czech Republic
* [[Karlovy Vary]], a spa city
* [[Karlštejn (Beroun District)|Karlštejn]], a town beyond the eponymous castle
* [[Charles Bridge]] (''Karlův most''), Prague
* [[Charles University]] (''Univerzita Karlova''), Prague
* Multiple squares – [[Charles Square]] (''Karlovo náměstí'') in Prague and others, for example in [[Brno]], [[Kolín]], [[Mělník]] etc.
* Multiple streets

; Italy
* [[Montecarlo, Tuscany|Montecarlo]] (Charles's Mountain), a municipality

=== Other ===

[[File:100CZK obverse.jpg|thumb|100-CZK banknote]]

* The 100-[[Czech koruna]] banknote
* [[16951 Carolus Quartus]], an asteroid

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