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Charles IV. and the Black Death
The reign of Charles IV (1316-1378) is one of the most dramatic periods in German history. Around the middle of the 14th century, the plague swept away a third of the Germans. The king who ruled during this terrible time was descended from the Luxembourg dynasty. Charles IV was born in Prague in 1316. His father John had married a Bohemian princess and thus became one of the most powerful men in the empire. In 1346, the ambitious Luxembourger succeeded in having his son Charles elected as counter-king to the incumbent Louis the Bavarian by paying horrendous bribes. Charles' position in the empire was initially weak, but the sudden death of Louis, a few months after the election, changed the situation.
Aired: Nov 23, 2010 Genre: DocumentaryProducers:Duration: 43m Rating: 0 Country:Production: ZDF
Episodes
01: Charlemagne and the Saxons02: Frederick II. and the Crusade03: Hildegard of Bingen and the Power of Women04: Charles IV. and the Black Death05: Thomas Müntzer and the Peasants' War06: Augustus the Strong and Love07: Karl Marx and the Class Struggle08: Ludwig II. and the Bavarians09: Rosa Luxemburg and Freedom10: Gustav Stresemann and the Republic