Was King Juan Carlos of Spain brought down by bad PR? He’s led a very interesting life as head of Spain’s ruling family: born in exile, maybe killed his brother, groomed successor to a dictator, and abdicated due to his kids’ financial shenanigans. Things are definitely not boring in Spain!

This week, it’s a full length “Royal Oops” episode as we finally answer the question, “What is the Holy Roman Empire?” Maybe. We hope. Charles V was the most titled and powerful man in Europe, King of Castile & Aragon, Duke of Burgundy, ruler of Hapsburg Austria, Holy Roman Emperor, and nephew to Catherine of Aragon. Yet this powerful man didn’t come to his Aunt’s aid in her divorce struggle. Why not? Well, he had some other troubles happening with Lutherans in Germany, Ottomans everywhere, and dealing with the Pope and the French in Italy. He was just like, so stressed out right now, ok?

We discuss Isabella (and Ferdinand) of Spain this week, in-laws to Henry VIII and Catholic overseers of Castile and Aragon. Isabella and her husband launched Spain's reconquering of Granada, the Inquisition, and sponsored a small voyage west across the Atlantic that led to rich, unforeseen discoveries and opportunity for Spain.