Editing Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (section)

=== 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]].