Emperor Charles IV was a significant figure in European history, reigning as the Holy Roman Emperor from 1355 until his death in 1378. Born in 1316, he was a member of the Luxembourg dynasty and played a crucial role in the political landscape of medieval Europe. He is best known for his efforts to strengthen the authority of the emperor and for promoting the Golden Bull of 1356, which established important electoral procedures for the Holy Roman Empire. Charles IV was also a patron of the arts and education, contributing to the cultural development of his time. He founded Charles University in Prague in 1348, which became one of the first universities in Central Europe. His reign is often seen as a period of relative stability and prosperity, as he worked to unify the diverse territories of the empire and fostered trade and commerce.