CHARLES

county, southern Maryland, U.S., bounded by the Potomac River to the south and west, Mattawoman Creek to the north, and the Patuxent and Wicomico rivers to the east. It is linked to Virginia across the Potomac by the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge. Parklands include the southern part of Cedarville State Forest, Doncaster Demonstration Forest, and Smallwood State Park. Charles county was created in 1658 and named for Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore. Before being moved to La Plata in 1895, the county seat from 1727 was Port Tobacco, one of the oldest extant English settlements in North America. The principal economic activities are tobacco farming and sand and gravel quarrying. Area 461 square miles (1,194 square km). Pop. (1990) 101,154; (1996 est.) 113,557. born Sept. 28, 1863, Lisbon died Feb. 1, 1908, Lisbon king of a troubled Portugal that was beset by colonial disputes, grave economic difficulties, and political unrest during his reign (18891908). The son of King Louis and of Maria Pia of Savoy, daughter of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, he married Marie Amlie of Orlans, a granddaughter of the French king Louis-Philippe, in 1886 and succeeded his father on Oct. 19, 1889. Forces generated by mistakes made before his time proved to be the undoing of this talented and intelligent man, who was also known for his paintings and oceanographical studies. At home, republicans, disaffected monarchists, and Freemasons kept up a running opposition. Popular indignation over the British ultimatum of 1890 demanding Portuguese withdrawal from certain African territories resulted in the republican revolt at Oporto (January 1891). In an effort to surmount political difficulties and bring about economic and administrative reform after a series of strikes and revolts, Charles appointed Joo Franco as prime minister in May 1906 and allowed him to assume dictatorial powers soon thereafter. Although some useful reforms were effected, strong opposition was aroused by governmental coercion and controversies over extravagances and the private life of Charles. While driving through the streets of Lisbon, the King and his eldest son, Luis Felipe, were assassinated. Charles was succeeded by another son, Manuel II. born 1319 died Sept. 29, 1364, Auray, Fr. byname Charles Of Blois rival duke of Brittany, a son of the French king Philip VI's sister Margaret. Charles's claim to Brittany through his marriage to Joan the Lame of Penthivre, niece of Duke John III of Brittany, led to a conflict with the other claimants, John of Montfort and later his son Duke John IV of Brittany, in the 20-year War of the Breton Succession, which also involved the kings of England and France. When John of Montfort began to win most of Brittany, Charles appealed to Philip, who had the peers of France recognize Charles as sole heir to the duchy; meanwhile, John had sought the aid of Edward III of England. On Nov. 1, 1341, Charles seized the city of Nantes and imprisoned John for four years. When Edward attacked Nantes, Pope Clement VI intervened in 1343 to conclude a truce. The war was renewed, however, and Charles was captured at La Roche-Derrien in January 1347 and incarcerated in the Tower of London; he paid a ransom and promised to hold Brittany, under vassalage to Edward. On July 12, 1363, Charles finally agreed on a partition of Brittany with Duke John IV of Brittany but was persuaded by his wife to break the treaty. At the Battle of Auray (Sept. 29, 1364), Charles was killed and his army defeated. born Nov. 10, 1433, Dijon, Burgundy [now in France] died Jan. 5, 1477, near Nancy, Lorraine byname Charles The Bold, French Charles Le Tmraire last of the great dukes of Burgundy (1467 to 1477). died 863 byname Charles Of Provence, French Charles De Provence third son of the Frankish emperor Lothair I. Upon his father's death (855) he inherited Provence. He was the first king of Provence, but he died without issue, and Provence was seized by his elder brother, the emperor Louis II. born c. 1084 died March 2, 1127, Bruges, Flanders byname Charles The Good, French Charles Le Bon, Dutch Karel De Goede count of Flanders (111927), only son of St. Canute, or Canute IV of Denmark, by Adela, daughter of Robert I the Frisian, count of Flanders. After the assassination of Canute in 1086, his widow took refuge in Flanders, taking with her her son. Charles was brought up by his mother and grandfather, Robert the Frisian, on whose death he did great services to his uncle, Robert II, and his cousin, Baldwin VII, counts of Flanders. Baldwin died of a wound received in battle in 1119 and, having no issue, left by will the succession to his countship to Charles. Charles did not secure his heritage without a civil war, but he was speedily victorious and made his position secure by treating his opponents with great clemency. He now devoted himself to promoting the welfare of his subjects and did his utmost to support the cause of Christianity, both by his bounty and by his example. He refused the offer of the crown of Jerusalem on the death of Baldwin I and declined to be nominated as a candidate for the imperial crown in succession to the Holy Roman emperor Henry V. He was murdered on Ash Wednesday, 1127, in the church of St. Donat at Bruges. Additional reading The excellent work by J. Bartier, Charles le Tmraire, rev. ed. (1970), with abundant illustrations, an appendix on the historical, literary, and mythical interpretations of the subject, and a critical bibliography, may be considered definitive.