This document provides biographical information on several important figures from the 16th century: Suleiman the Magnificent, the longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire; Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor who opposed the Protestant Reformation; Martin Luther, the German priest who initiated the Protestant Reformation; Henry VIII, the King of England who established himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England; and Francis I, the King of France who had relations with the Ottoman Empire. Each entry includes details on their birth, reign or role, accomplishments, and death.

1. Defenders of the Faith
By James Reston Jr
Taylor Rose
History 150
October, 2010

2. Suleiman The Magnificent
 Born November 6, 1494 –
September 5,6,7, 1566
 Longest-reigning Sultan of
the Ottoman Empire, from
1520 to his death in 1566
 Suleiman became a
prominent monarch of 16th
century Europe
 Suleiman married Roxelana,
who became Hürrem Sultan
 He conquered Belgrade in
1521
 His son Selim II, succeeded
Suleiman following his death
in 1566 after 46 years of ruling.

3. Charles V Holy Roman Emperor
• Born February 24, 1500 – September
21, 1558
• Ruler of Roman Empire from 1519
• He had control over extensive
domains in Central, Western, and
Southern Europe; and the Spanish
colonies in North, Central, and South
America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the
Philippines.
• Charles' reign was devoted to the
Italian Wars against the French kings
Francis I and Henry II
• Charles is best known for his role in
opposing the Protestant Reformation.

4. Martin Luther
 Born in November 10, 1483 –
February 18, 1546
 A German priest and professor of
theology who initiated the
Protestant Reformation
 In 1501, at the age of 19, he
entered the University of Erfurt
 Luther enrolled in law school at
the same university that year but
dropped out almost immediately,
believing that law represented
uncertainty
 He became convinced that the
church was corrupt in its ways and
had lost sight of what he saw as
several of the central truths of
Christianity.
 His last sermon was delivered at
Eisleben, his place of birth, on
February 15, 1546 three days before
his death.

5. Henry VIII
 Born in June 1491 – January 28
1547
 King of England from April 21
1509 until his death
 Henry was an attractive and
charismatic man in his prime,
educated and he ruled with
absolute power.
 Establishing himself as the
Supreme Head of the Church of
England
 Late in life, Henry became
obese. Henry's obesity
undoubtedly hastened his death
at the age of 55, which occurred
on 28 January 1547 in the Palace
of Whitehall

6. Francis I
 He was born September 12,
1494 – March 31, 1547
 King of France 1515 till he
died
 Born at the Château de Cognac
 Crowned king of France at the
age of 20
 Francis managed to defeat the
Swiss at Marignano in 1515,
which enabled him to capture
the Italian city-state of Milan.
 Had relations with the
Ottoman Empire, and to set up
instruction in the Arabic
language