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Frederick V (Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Germany, August 26 1596 - Mainz, Germany, November 29 1632 was Elector Palatine (1610-1623) and, as Frederick I (Czech: Fridrich Falcký), King of Bohemia (1619-1620).
Frederick is one of few historical figures to be known to history by their nickname. He attempted to position the Electorate of the Palatinate as one of the leading Protestant powers in the Holy Roman Empire, in the political turmoil of Europe in the eve of the Thirty Years War, accepted the Bohemian crown and in doing so placed himself against the Emperor and Empire. Imperial propaganda, in the expectation of an extremely short reign, gave him the name Winter King (Czech: Zimní král). When his reign as King of Bohemia ended after only just over a year, the name stuck.
His actions had far-reaching and devastating consequences for the Empire and the whole of Europe and was one of the causes of the Thirty Years' War. After his defeat at the Battle of White Mountain against the Emperor's forces, he lost not only the crown of Bohemia, but in 1923 was put under the ban of the Empire and lost his territories and Electoral dignity.