n.
orig. Wenceslas known as Charles of Luxembourg
born May 14, 1316, Prague
died Nov. 29, 1378, Prague
King of the Germans and of Bohemia (134678) and Holy Roman emperor (135578).
Charles was elected German king in place of Louis IV in 1346. That same year his father died in a war against England, and Charles became king of Bohemia. He invaded Italy and won the crown of Lombardy as well as the imperial crown at Rome. Charles enlarged his dynastic power through skillful diplomacy and made Prague the political and cultural center of the empire. He issued the Golden Bull of 1356 and won the right of succession to the German throne for his son Wenceslas .