Charles V Crowned by the Pope

February 24, 1530

At Bologna, Pope Clement VII placed the iron crown of Lombardy and then the imperial diadem on the head of Charles V. It was the last time a pope would crown an emperor. Charles, victor over Francis and tormentor of Rome, now bestrode Europe like no ruler since antiquity. The coronation was carefully staged political theater demonstrating unity of secular and spiritual power just as Luther's Reformation was tearing both apart.