ISABBELLA (1503-1539) Queen of Spain, Holy Roman Empress A Royal document signed as Regent by Isabella in the time-honoured manner of the Spanish monarchs, You la Reyna. Isabella, born in Portugal, was extremely beautiful. Her fame derives from the few significant relationships in her relatively short life – as daughter of the Portuguese Royal Family – as wife to Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and perhaps the most powerful man in the world at the time – and, as mother of the future Philip II of Spain and Maria, wife of the Emperor, Maximilian. Beset by problems but bent on maintaining the unity of the Empire in a crisis ridden Europe, Charles was frequently absent. In his absence, Isabella’s duties as Regent included approving official documents such as the one on offer.