Charles III of Spain
Charles III (Spanish: Carlos, German: Karl; 21 March 1680 – 22 February 1749) was King of Spain for nearly half a century from 1700 for 1749. Originally born a Habsburg archduke of Austria, he ascended to the Spanish throne at twenty years of age.
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| King of Spain | |
| Reign | 1 November 1700 – 22 February 1749 |
| Coronation | 13 December 1700 |
| Predecessor | Charles II |
| Successor | Charles IV |
| Born | Charles Francis Joseph 21 March 1680 Vienna, Austria |
| Died | 22 February 1749 Madrid, Spain |
| Burial | 27 February 1749 El Escorial |
| Spouse | Beatriz, Duchess of Camiña |
| Issue (details) | Charles IV Infanta Anna |
| House | Habsburg |
| Father | Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Mother | Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Early life
Charles Francis Joseph Wenceslaus Balthasar John Anthony Ignatius was born the second son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and Princess Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg on 21 March 1687. The death of Maria Antonia of Austria in 1685 transferred her claim on the Spanish throne onto the five-year-old Charles. Soon, he had his rights to the Spanish throne secured by legal contract. Throughout his childhood, he was vigorously educated by Anton Florian, Prince of Liechtenstein. The young Charles studied German, Latin, Italian, and Spanish while taking a deep interest in music and architecture.
In anticipation of his accession to the Spanish throne, his family arranged for him to take on a Spanish wife. While in Madrid in early 1700, he met Beatriz, Duchess of Camiña, of the noble Portocarrero family. After a few months, the couple were wed in Andalusia.
Reign
His ascension on 1 November 1700 was sanctioned by Britain, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Principality of Catalonia and eventually the entire Kingdom of Spain, as was agreed upon in the Treaty of Nîmes. The Treaty also required the Spanish possessions of Milan, Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia to be transferred to Bourbon France, ending the Spanish Crown's dominance in Italy. The loss of the Kingdom of Naples in particular, one of the most profitable Spanish domains, had a significantly negative economic impact.
Throughout his life and particularly in his early reign, the King maintained same-sex relationships with several male courtiers and servants. In particular, he cherished his romantic bond with his Grand Equerry, the Marquis of Laconi. His wife, Queen Beatriz, reportedly felt incredibly lonely and neglected, leading to her conducting her own affairs with palace staff. Despite their estrangement, they produced a child on 5 February 1714 who would become Charles IV of Spain. In 1717, the Queen gave birth to a girl known as Infanta Anna. However, she died a few months old, a tragic event that greatly traumatized members of the royal family and caused the rift between the King and Queen to widen beyond repair.
A proponent of Spanish imperialism, the King extensively encouraged migration to the sparsely populated colony of Florida. In addition to Spanish migrants, a number of German-speaking colonists from Austria arrived in Florida during the early 18th century. The city of San Carlos de Austria in western Florida was named for Charles III in 1719.
Death and legacy
After his death, the King would be mockingly described with the phrase «Vino con cesiones, se fue con cesiones» ('Came with concessions, left with concessions'), referring to the transfer of Spain's Italian possessions to France in 1700 and the sale of Carolina to Britain in 1755.