Charles III of Spain
Duke of Parma, King of Naples and Sicily, King of Spain
Reign	August 10, 1759–December 14, 1788
Born	January 20, 1716
Birthplace	Madrid, Spain
Died	December 14, 1788 (aged 72)
Place of death	Madrid, Spain
Predecessor	Ferdinand VI of Spain
Successor	Charles IV of Spain
Consort	Maria Amalia of Saxony
Issue	Maria Louisa of Spain Charles IV of Spain Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
Royal House	House of Bourbon
Father	Philip V of Spain
Mother	Elizabeth Farnese

Charles III (January 20, 1716 – December 14, 1788) was King of Spain 1759–88 (as Carlos III de Borbón), King of Naples and Sicily 1735–59 (as Carlo VII and Carlo V), and Duke of Parma 1732–35 (as Carlo I). Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1716 ( MDCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Ferdinand VI, ( September 23, 1713 &ndash August 10, 1759) King of Spain from 1746 until his death second son of Philip Charles IV ( November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication Maria Amalia Christina ( November 24, 1724 &ndash September 27 1760) was a Princess of Saxony and as wife of Charles Maria Louisa of Spain ( Spanish: María Luisa, German: Maria Ludovika) (24 November 1745&ndash15 May 1792 was Grand Duchess of Tuscany Charles IV ( November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication Ferdinand I ( Ferdinando Antonio Pasquale Giovanni Nepomuceno Serafino Gennaro Benedetto, January 12, 1751 &ndash January 4, 1825) The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. Philip V of Spain ( December 19, 1683 - July 9, 1746) born Philippe de France, Fils de France and duc d'Anjou Elisabeth of Parma ( October 22, 1692 &ndash July 11, 1766) Queen consort of Spain, also known as Isabel de Events 250 - Emperor Decius begins a widespread persecution of Christians in Rome. Year 1716 ( MDCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap This is a list of Spanish Monarchs &mdashthat is rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap The Kingdom of Naples was an informal name of the Polity officially known as the Kingdom of Sicily which existed on the mainland of the southern Italian The Kingdom of Sicily (Regnum Siciliae or Sicilie Regno di Sicilia, commonly abbreviated Regno) was a state that existed in the south of Italy Year 1735 ( MDCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III 's illegitimate son Year 1732 ( MDCCXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1735 ( MDCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a He was a proponent of enlightened absolutism.

King of Naples and Sicily

Charles was the first son of the second marriage of Philip V with Elizabeth Farnese of Parma. Philip V of Spain ( December 19, 1683 - July 9, 1746) born Philippe de France, Fils de France and duc d'Anjou Elisabeth of Parma ( October 22, 1692 &ndash July 11, 1766) Queen consort of Spain, also known as Isabel de Parma is a City in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna near Modena famous for its Architecture and the fine countryside around it

At the age of sixteen he was sent to rule as Duke of Parma by right of his mother; there, he came under more enlightened influence than he could have found in Spain. The Duchy of Parma was a small Italian state between 1545 and 1802 and again from 1814 to 1860

On December 1, 1734 following Montemar's victory over the Austrians at Bitonto, he made himself master of Naples and Sicily by arms. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1734 ( MDCCXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a José Carrillo de Albornoz duque de Montemar (Sevilla 1671 - Madrid 1747 was a Spanish Army commander who conquered the Two Sicilies and Oran. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich The Battle of Bitonto ( May 25, 1734) was a Spanish victory over Austrian forces near Bitonto in southern Italy in the War of Polish Succession Naples ( Napoli, Neapolitan: Nàpule) is a historic City in southern Italy, the Capital of the Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Charles had, however, no military tastes, seldom wore uniforms, and could only with difficulty, be persuaded to witness a review. The peremptory action of the British admiral commanding in the Mediterranean at the approach of the War of the Austrian Succession, who forced him to promise to observe neutrality under a threat to bombard Naples, made a deep impression on his mind. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks of the highest Naval officers The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748 involved nearly all the powers of Europe It gave him a feeling of hostility towards the Kingdom of Great Britain which, in after-times, influenced his policy. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 In 1735, he resigned Parma to Emperor Charles VI in exchange for recognition as King of Naples and Sicily. Year 1735 ( MDCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Charles VI (German Karl VI) ( October 1, 1685 &ndash October 20, 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia As King of Naples and Sicily, Charles began there the work of internal reform which he afterwards continued in Spain. Foreign ministers who dealt with him agreed that he had no great natural ability, but he was honestly desirous to do his duty as king, and he showed good judgment in his choice of ministers. The chief minister in Naples, Tanucci, had a considerable influence over him. Bernardo Tanucci ( February 20, 1698 - April 29, 1783) was an Italian statesman who brought enlightened government to the backward Kingdom It was during his rule that the Roman cities of Herculaneum (1738) and Pompeii (1748) were re-discovered. Herculaneum (in modern Italian Ercolano) is an ancient Roman town located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano. Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples and Caserta in the Italian region of Campania, in The king encouraged the excavations and was informed about the findings even after moving to Spain.

King of Spain

Spanish House of Bourbon 1700-1833

Philip V Children    Louis I    Ferdinand VI    Charles III    Mariana Victoria, Queen of Portugal    Philip, Duke of Parma    Teresa, Dauphine of France    Infante Louis    Antonia, Queen of Sardinia Louis I Ferdinand VI Charles III Children    Infanta Maria Josepha    Maria Luisa, Holy Roman Empress    Felipe, Duke of Calabria    Charles IV    Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies    Infante Gabriel    Infante Antonio Grandchild of cadet line    Infante Pedro Carlos Charles IV Children    Charlotte, Queen of Portugal    Infanta Maria Amelia    Maria Luisa, Queen of Etruria, Duchess of Parma    Ferdinand VII    Carlos, Count of Molina    Maria Isabella, Queen of the Two Sicilies    Infante Francisco de Paula Grandchildren of cadet lines    Carlos, Count of Montemolin    Juan, Count of Montizón    Infante Fernando    Francis, Duke of Cadiz, King Consort of Spain    Henry, Duke of Sevilla    Infanta Maria Cristina    Amelia, Princess of Bavaria Ferdinand VII Children    Isabella II    Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier Edit

On August 10, 1759, his half-brother Ferdinand VI of Spain died and Charles succeeded him. The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. Philip V of Spain ( December 19, 1683 - July 9, 1746) born Philippe de France, Fils de France and duc d'Anjou King Louis I of Spain ( Spanish: Luis, August 25, 1707 &ndash August 31, 1724) born Luis Felipe of Spain Ferdinand VI, ( September 23, 1713 &ndash August 10, 1759) King of Spain from 1746 until his death second son of Philip Mariana Victoria of Bourbon (Mariana Vitória ( March 31, 1718 &ndash January 15, 1781) was Queen consort of Portugal Ancestors Duke of Parma Infanta Maria Antonietta Ferdinanda of Spain ( November 17, 1729 - September 19, 1785) was Queen of Sardinia as the wife of King King Louis I of Spain ( Spanish: Luis, August 25, 1707 &ndash August 31, 1724) born Luis Felipe of Spain Ferdinand VI, ( September 23, 1713 &ndash August 10, 1759) King of Spain from 1746 until his death second son of Philip The Infante Don Philip of Sicily ( 13 June 1747 - 19 September 1777) Charles IV ( November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication Ferdinand I ( Ferdinando Antonio Pasquale Giovanni Nepomuceno Serafino Gennaro Benedetto, January 12, 1751 &ndash January 4, 1825) Infanta Maria Teresa of Portugal (or of Braganza pron mɐ'ɾiɐ tɨ'ɾezɐ or; English: Mary Theresa; full name Charles IV ( November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication Brazilian films and TV shows about her life Carlota Joaquina - Princesa do Brazil (1994 - Directed by Carla Camurati Early life In his youth he occupied the painful position of an heir apparent who was jealously excluded from all share in government by his parents and the royal favorite Not to be confused with Charles V Holy Roman Emperor, who is sometimes erroneously called Charles V of Spain The Infante Carlos of Spain Maria Isabella of Spain (Maria Isabel de Borbón y Borbón-Parma ( 6 July, 1789, Madrid - 13 September, 1848, Portici) Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain ( Francisco de Paula de Borbón) was born on 10 March 1794 in Aranjuez, Spain. Infante Carlos Conde de Montemolín ( 31 January 1818 - 13 January 1861) was the Carlist claimant to the Throne Youth and marriage Juan was born at the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the younger son of the Infante Carlos of Spain, brother of King Ferdinand VII The Infanta Doña Maria Cristina of Spain ( Doña María Cristina Teresa Alejandra María de Guadalupe María de la Concepción Ildefonsa Victoria Eugenia de Borbón y Battenberg Early life In his youth he occupied the painful position of an heir apparent who was jealously excluded from all share in government by his parents and the royal favorite "Isabella II" redirects here For the Queen of Jerusalem also known as Isabella II see Yolande of Jerusalem. Infanta Doña María Luísa Fernanda of Spain (30 January 1832 - 2 February 1897 was Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Montpensier Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Ferdinand VI, ( September 23, 1713 &ndash August 10, 1759) King of Spain from 1746 until his death second son of Philip On October 6, 1759 he abdicated the thrones of Naples and Sicily in favour of his third son, Ferdinand. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Ferdinand I ( Ferdinando Antonio Pasquale Giovanni Nepomuceno Serafino Gennaro Benedetto, January 12, 1751 &ndash January 4, 1825)

As king of Spain, his foreign policy was marked by the alliance with France (the Family Compacts) and the conflict with Britain over the control of the American possessions. The Pacte de Famille (Family Compact in English Pacto de Familia in Spanish is one of three separate but similar alliances between the kings of France and Spain His support for France in the close of the Seven Years' War led to the loss of Florida to the British, although this was partly compensated by the acquisition of the French Louisiana. The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths The rivalry with Britain also led him to support the American revolutionaries in their War of Independence despite his misgivings about the example it would set for the Spanish Colonies. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" During the war, Spain recovered Menorca and Florida, but failed to capture Gibraltar. Minorca ( Catalan and Spanish: Menorca; from Latin Balearis Minor, later Minorica "minor island" is one of the Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar

His internal government was, on the whole, beneficial to the country. He began by compelling the people of Madrid to give up emptying their slops out of the windows, and when they objected he said they were like children who cried when their faces were washed. In 1766, his attempt to force the madrileños to adopt the French dress for public security reasons was the excuse for a riot (Motín de Esquilache) during which he did not display much personal courage. Year 1766 ( MDCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Esquilache Riots ( Motín de Esquilache) occurred in March 1766 during the rule of Charles III of Spain. For a long time after, he remained at Aranjuez, leaving the government in the hands of his minister Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea, Count of Aranda. Population 2002 40928 2004 46891 2005 48139 May 2007 52873 Government This person should not be confused with Pedro de Aranda, bishop of Calahorra during the late fifteenth century Not all his reforms were of this formal kind.

Charles was a thorough despot of the benevolent order, and had been deeply offended by the real or suspected share of the Jesuits in the riot of 1766. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order He therefore consented to the expulsion of the order, and was then the main advocate for its suppression. The Suppression of the Jesuits in Portugal, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result His quarrel with the Jesuits, and the recollection of some disputes with the Pope he had had when King of Naples turned him towards a general policy of restriction of what he saw as the overgrown power of the Church. The number of reputedly idle clergy, and more particularly of the monastic orders, was reduced, and the Spanish Inquisition, though not abolished, was rendered torpid. The Spanish Inquisition started and was established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile to maintain

Equestrian statue of Charles III in Madrid. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain.

In the meantime, much antiquated legislation which tended to restrict trade and industry was abolished; roads, canals and drainage works were established. Many of his paternal ventures led to little more than waste of money, or the creation of hotbeds of jobbery; yet on the whole the country prospered. The result was largely due to the king, who even when he was ill-advised did at least work steadily at his task of government. He created the Spanish Lottery and introduced Christmas cribs following Neapolitan models. A nativity scene may be used to describe any depiction of the Nativity of Jesus in art, but in the sense covered here also called a crib or manger in the During his reign, the movement to found "Economic Societies" (a rough prototype Chamber of Commerce) was born. The Sociedades Económicas de Amigos del País (Economic Societies of Friends of the Country were private associations established in various cities throughout Enlightenment

His example was not without effect on some of the nobles. In his domestic life King Charles was regular, and was a considerate master, though he had a somewhat caustic tongue and took a rather cynical view of humanity. He was passionately fond of hunting. During his later years he had some trouble with his eldest son and daughter-in-law. If Charles had lived to see the beginning of the French Revolution he would probably have been frightened into reaction. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an As he died on the 14th of December 1788 he left the reputation of a philanthropic and philosophic king, still nicknamed "el rey alcalde" ("the king mayor") because of the public works in Madrid. Madrid (pronounced in English in Spanish and colloquially in Spain) is the Capital and largest city of Spain. In spite of his hostility to the Jesuits, his dislike of friars in general, and his jealousy of the Spanish Inquisition, he was a very sincere Roman Catholic. The Spanish Inquisition started and was established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile to maintain

Ancestors

Marriage and children

Silver 8 real coin of Carlos III, dated 1776. Sophia Eleonore of Saxony ( Dresden, November 23 1609 - Darmstadt, June 2 1671) was the wife of George II Landgrave The Latin inscription reads: (obverse) 1776 CAROLUS III DEI GRATIA, (reverse) HISPAN[IARUM] ET IND[IARUM] REX M[EXICANIUS] 8 R[EALES] F M; in English, "1776 Charles III, by the Grace of God, King of the Spains and of the Indies, Mexico City Mint, 8 Reales. " The reverse depicts the arms of Castile and León, with Granada in base and an inescutcheon of Anjou, supported by the Pillars of Hercules. Castile and León (Castilla y León known formally as the Community of Castile and León is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous region of Andalusia, Spain. Escutcheon (ɪ'skʌtʃən (also called scutcheon) is the term used in Heraldry for the Shield displayed Anjou is a former County (c 880) Duchy ( 1360) and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower The Pillars of Hercules was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.

Charles III married Maria Amalia of Saxony (1724-1760), daughter of Augustus III of Poland in 1738. Maria Amalia Christina ( November 24, 1724 &ndash September 27 1760) was a Princess of Saxony and as wife of Charles Augustus III (Augustus III the Saxon or the Corpulent (August III They had 13 children (of whom seven reached adulthood):

• María Isabel (6 September 1740 - 2 November 1742)
• María Josefa (20 January 1742 - 1 April 1742)
• María Isabel (30 April 1743 - 5 March 1749)
• María Josefa (6 July 1744 - 8 December 1801)
• Maria Louisa (24 November 1745 - 15 May 1792). Married Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Leopold II (May 5 1747 March 1 1792 born Peter Leopold Joseph Anton Joachim Pius Gotthard, was Holy Roman Emperor from 1790 to 1792 and Grand Duke
• Felipe Antonio (13 June 1747 - 19 September 1777). The Infante Don Philip of Sicily ( 13 June 1747 - 19 September 1777) Duke of Calabria, excluded from succession to the throne due to his imbecility.
• Charles IV (11 November 1748 - 19 January 1819), through whom the Spanish branch of Bourbons continued. Charles IV ( November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication
• María Teresa (2 December 1749 - 2 May 1750)
• Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (12 January 1751 - 4 January 1825), founder of the Sicily branch of Bourbons. Ferdinand I ( Ferdinando Antonio Pasquale Giovanni Nepomuceno Serafino Gennaro Benedetto, January 12, 1751 &ndash January 4, 1825)
• Gabriel Antonio (11 May 1752 - 23 November 1788). Married Mariana Vitória Josefa of Portugal (daughter of Maria I of Portugal) and had issue. See also House of Bourbon-Braganza Maria I ( December 17, 1734 – March 20, 1816) was Queen of Portugal and the Algarves from 1777 until her death
• María Ana (3. July 1754 - 11 May 1755)
• Antonio Pascal (31 December 1755 - 20 April 1817). Married his niece María Amalia, daughter of Charles IV. No issue.
• Francisco Javier (15 February 1757 - 10 April 1771).

See also

• Enlightenment Spain
• Order of Charles III and Saint Fernando

Selective bibliography

• Acton, Sir Harold (1956). The Age of Enlightenment (in Spanish Ilustración) came to Spain in the eighteenth century with the French Bourbon dynasty, after the decay The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III was established by the King of Spain Carlos III by means of the Royal Decree of September 19 Sir Harold Mario Mitchell Acton KBE ( 5 July 1904 - 27 February 1994) was a British writer scholar and Dilettante The Bourbons of Naples, 1734-1825. London: Methuen.  
• Lynch, John (1989). Bourbon Spain, 1700-1808. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-14576-1.  
• Petrie, Sir Charles (1971). Sir Charles Alexander Petrie 3rd Baronet ( September 28, 1895 - December 13, 1977) was a popular historian King Charles III of Spain: An Enlightened Despot. London: Constable. ISBN 0-09-457270-4.  
• Thomas E. Chávez, Spain and the Independence of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2002.

External links

• The Spanish and Latin American Contribution to the American Revolutionary War during the reign of King Carlos III