Charles IV (Czech: Karel IV., German: Karl IV, Hungarian: IV. Károly; 14 May 1316 - 29 November 1378), born Wenceslaus (Václav), was the eleventh king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1355 until his death.
He was the eldest son and heir of John the Blind, from whom he inherited Luxembourg and the Kingdom of Bohemia on 26 August 1346. Charles IV was crowned King of Bohemia on 2 September 1347, as Charles I.
He was elected King of the Romans (rex Romanorum) in opposition to Louis IV on 11 July that year and crowned on 26 November in Bonn. In 1349, he was elected (17 June) and crowned (25 July) King of the Romans without opposition. In 1355 he was crowned King of Italy on 6 January and Holy Roman Emperor on 5 April. With his coronation as King of Burgundy, delayed until 4 June 1365, he became the personal ruler of all the kingdoms of the Holy Roman Empire.
