Empero7' CJiarlcs V and his Vast Realms 573 became the grand duchy of Tuscany, governed by a line of petty princes under whom its former glories were never renewed. Friendly relations existed at first between the two young Sources of sovereigns, Francis I and Charles V, but there were several between circumstances which led to an almost incessant series of wars ^!"?^ and the between them. France was clamped in between the northern Hapsburgs and southern possessions of Charles, and had at that time no natural boundaries. Moreover, there was a standing dispute over portions of the Burgundian realms, for both Charles and Francis claimed the duchy of Burgundy and also the neighboring comity oi Burgundy — commonly called Franche-Comte' (see ac- companying map). Charles also believed that, through his grand- father, Maximilian, he was entitled to Milan, which the French kings had set their hearts upon retaining. For a generation the rivals fought over these and other matters, and the wars be- tween Charles and Francis were but the prelude to a conflict lasting over two centuries between France and the overgrown power of the House of Hapsburg. In the impending struggle it was natural that both monarchs Henry vill should try to gain the aid of the king of England, whose friend- °509-f547 ' ship was of the greatest importance to each of them, and who was by no means loath to take a hand in European affairs. Henry VHI had succeeded his father, Henry VH, in 1509 at the age of eighteen. Like Francis, he was good-looking and graceful, and in his early years made a very happy impression upon those who came in contact with him. He gained much popularity by condemning to death the two men who had been most active in extorting the " benevolences " which his father had been wont to require of unwilling givers. With a small but important class, his learning brought him credit. He married, for his first wife, an aunt of Charles V, Catherine of Aragon, and chose as his chief adviser Thomas Wolsey, whose career and sudden downfall were to be strangely associated with the fate of the unfortunate Spanish princess.^ 1 See below, pp. 609-611.
