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Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Alcalá de Henares, 10 Mar 1503 – Vienna, 25 Jul 1564

13 facts2 sources

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About Ferdinand

Ferdinand I: Habsburg lands and imperial office

AI-assisted · edited

Ferdinand I was the son of Philip I of Castile and Juana I of Castile. The collection records his birth in Alcalá de Henares in 1503 and his death in Vienna in 1564. 1234

His titles included King of Bohemia, Apostolic King of Hungary, and Prince-Elector. He later held the office of Holy Roman Emperor until his death in 1564. 56784

Before becoming emperor, Ferdinand ruled the Austrian hereditary lands in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, and often acted as Charles’s representative in relations with German princes. He was Archduke of Austria and was united with Anne of Bohemia and Hungary. 910

Drafted with AI and edited against the collection. Open a citation to see the record, its sources and how certain it is.

Facts and their sources

  • Born10 Mar 1503, Alcalá de Henaresnot verified1 source
  • MarriedAnne of Bohemia and Hungarynot verified1 source
  • TitlePrince-Electoror Apostolic King of Hungary, 1526–1564 · King of Bohemia, 1526–1564 · Holy Roman Emperor, 1556–1564not verified1 source
  • TitleKing of Bohemia, 1526–1564or Apostolic King of Hungary, 1526–1564 · Holy Roman Emperor, 1556–1564 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • TitleApostolic King of Hungary, 1526–1564or King of Bohemia, 1526–1564 · Holy Roman Emperor, 1556–1564 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • TitleHoly Roman Emperor, 1556–1564or Apostolic King of Hungary, 1526–1564 · King of Bohemia, 1526–1564 · Prince-Electornot verified1 source
  • Died25 Jul 1564, Viennanot verified1 source
  • FatherPhilip I of Castilenot verified1 source
  • MotherJuana I of Castilenot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 10 Mar 1503

    Born in Alcalá de Henares

  2. 1526–1547

    15 children are born

  3. 1526–1564

    King of Bohemia

  4. 1526–1564

    Apostolic King of Hungary

  5. 1556–1564

    Holy Roman Emperor

  6. 25 Jul 1564

    Dies in Vienna, aged 61

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 15

During his lifetime

He lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Alcalá de Henares.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1500s · Ferdinand is born in Alcalá de Henares

What people wore

The Colorful Woolen Tunic Called Saya

Ordinary people wore a tunic called a saya, which was often made of wool and dyed in various colors like red, purple, ocher, blue, green, white, or black. It was typically worn by peasants and artisans, sometimes featuring an open neck known as an amigaut.

Daily life

Domestic heating and cleaning methods

Households used braziers to heat laundry and water for cleaning, as homes lacked modern amenities like running water.

Work

Agricultural life and self-sufficiency

About 80 percent of Navarre's population relied on agriculture, with most households aiming for self-sufficiency. Two-thirds of farmers combined agricultural work with artisan activities.

Music

Entertainment at new mass celebrations

New mass celebrations often lasted two days, featuring hired minstrels for entertainment; attendees often gave money to the hosts, believing it helped secure indulgences.

At the table

Wine as a daily essential drink

Wine was the essential daily drink, considered vital for health and often mixed with water because pure water was frequently unsafe to consume. It was consumed by all social classes, and many people carried their own measuring tools to ensure the wine was diluted correctly.

Getting around

Limited river navigation

Rivers in the region were generally not navigable, except for the Ebro, where small boats transported goods like grain, wine, and iron.

What it cost

Labor Wages in Construction Projects

For construction projects like fortification, labor wages accounted for between 65 and 100 percent of total costs.