I
born May 29, 1630, London, Eng.
died Feb. 6, 1685, London
King of Great Britain and Ireland (1660–85).
Son of Charles I and Henrietta Maria , he supported his father in the English Civil Wars . After his father's execution, he invaded England in 1651 but was defeated at Worcester. He then spent years in exile until Breda paved the way for him to be proclaimed king in May 1660 (see Restoration ). He became known as "the Merry Monarch" for his lifting of Puritan restrictions on entertainment and his own love of pleasure; his best-known mistress was the actress Nell Gwyn . Important events of his reign included the controversial Treaty of Dover and two wars with the Dutch (see Anglo-Dutch Wars ). By the 1670s the miscarriages of his queen, Catherine of Braganza , had reduced hopes that he would have a legitimate heir (though he left at least 14 illegitimate offspring). He almost lost control of his government when hysteria arose over the Popish Plot to replace him with his Roman Catholic brother James (the future James II ). Charles kept his nerve, reestablished his political control, and eventually enjoyed a resurgence in loyalty. His political adaptability and acumen enabled him to steer his country through the struggle between Anglicans, Catholics, and dissenters that marked his reign.
II
Spanish Carlos
born Nov. 6, 1661, Madrid, Spain
died Nov. 1, 1700, Madrid
King of Spain (1665–1700), the last monarch of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty .
Son of Philip IV and Maria Anna of Austria, he was slow-witted and became known as Charles the Mad. His reign opened with a 10-year regency under the queen mother. The first phase of his personal government was concerned with resistance to the French imperialism of Louis XIV , and the second was dominated by the succession problem, for it was clear that he would father no children. His death led to the War of the Spanish Succession .
III
known as Charles of Anjou or Charles the Lame
born с 1254
died May 5, 1309, Naples
King of Naples and ruler of several other European territories.
He guarded Naples while his father, {{link=Charles">Charles I , launched a campaign to regain Sicily from the Aragonese. He was captured and imprisoned (1284–88); on being freed he promised to give up his claim to Sicily, but the pope released him from the vow, and he fought unsuccessfully for Sicily until 1302. He built alliances through the marriages of his children and extended his control over Piedmont, Provence, Hungary, Athens, and Albania.
IV
known as Charles the Bad
born 1332
died Jan. 1, 1387
King of Navarra (1349–87).
He acquired Normandy from John II of France by threatening an English alliance. Arrested for his treachery in 1356, he escaped a year later and regained Normandy. He pursued shifting alliances in Spain in an effort to expand Navarrese power. Charles V voided his claims in France, and the discovery of his plot to poison the French king cost him all of Normandy except Cherbourg.
V
known as Charles the Bald
born June 13, 823
died Oct. 6, 877, Brides-les-Bain, Fr.
Carolingian king (843–77) and emperor (875–77).
He was the son of the emperor Louis I and his second wife Judith. Louis's efforts to include Charles in the succession led to revolts against the emperor by his three older sons. After the death of Louis, Charles fought his two surviving half brothers in a bloody civil war (840–43) that was concluded with the Treaty of Verdun , which settled the terms of succession. Charles was granted the kingdom of the western Franks, which he ruled with the support of the bishops despite the wavering loyalties of his vassals and the attacks of Norsemen, Bretons, and Germans. In 864 he won control of Aquitaine, and in 870 he gained western Lorraine. He was crowned emperor in 875 but died two years later in the midst of invasion and internal revolt. Inspired by his grandfather, Charlemagne , Charles was a patron of the arts and oversaw the revival of the splendours of the Carolingian renaissance.