For almost 700 years, the Hapsburg family was one of the greatest dynasties in Europe. Over the course of its history, members of the family at some point controlled almost every part of the continent. The greatest extent of European control was held by the famous Emperor Charles V (1500 - 1558). As he approached old age, Charles, plagued by internal conflicts and the united hostility of the rest of Europe, suffered a breakdown and retired to a Spanish monastery. He subsequently became convinced that such vast possessions were too great for any one man to manage, and so he divided his lands between his son, Philip and his brother, Fernando. The title of Holy Roman Emperor and the control over Austria and much of Germany was inherited by Fernando. The history of his descendants is told in The Austrian Hapsburgs from Charles V. Philip (II of Spain) inherited the personal lands of his father, which had been gained through conquest and marriage alliances. The greatest of those lands was Spain , and Philip's line is known as the Spanish Hapsburgs.