User blog comment:LurkerLordB/Italian Holy Roman Empire/@comment-32656-20120413033825/@comment-4612798-20120413095958

Charles V didn't do too badly, and he ruled Naples and the HRE. Although he didn't have North Italy by that point and delegated a lot of Germany to his brother.

I suppose if there was a weak ruler in France it might be do-able? It was only a period of peace with France that allowed Charles to crack down on the Schmalkaldic League.