Charles III of Spain

Charles III (20 January 1716 – 14 December 1788) was a king of Spain and the oldest son of Philip V and Elisabeth Farnese. He ruled Spain from 1759 until his death in 1788. After he died, his son, Charles IV, became king. He was also the king of Naples and Sicily from 1734 until 1759. In those places he was known as Charles VII of Naples and Charles V of Sicily. He was the builder of the Palace of Caserta as well as the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Real Albergo dei Poveri in Naples.

Charles III
Portrait by Anton Raphael Mengs, c. 1761
King of Spain (more...)
Reign	10 August 1759 – 14 December 1788
Predecessor	Ferdinand VI
Successor	Charles IV
King of Naples and Sicily
Reign	15 May 1734 – 6 October 1759
Coronation	3 July 1735, Palermo Cathedral
Predecessor	Charles VI
Successor	Ferdinand IV & III
Duke of Parma and Piacenza
Reign	29 December 1731 – 3 October 1735
Predecessor	Antonio Farnese
Successor	Charles VI
Born	20 January 1716 Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain
Died	14 December 1788(1788-12-14) (aged 72) Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain
Burial	El Escorial
Spouse	Maria Amalia of Saxony
Issue Detail	Infanta Maria Josefa Maria Luisa, Holy Roman Empress Infante Philip, Duke of Calabria Charles IV of Spain Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies Infante Gabriel Infante Antonio Pascual Infante Francisco Javier
Full name Spanish: Carlos Sebastián de Borbón y Farnesio Italian: Carlo Sebastiano di Borbone e Farnese
House	Bourbon
Father	Philip V of Spain
Mother	Elisabeth Farnese
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Charles III grew up in Madrid. When he was 16 years old, he went to live in Parma, a city in Italy. He ruled that city, and the nearby city of Piacenza as their Duke from 1731 until 1734. In 1738 he married the Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony. They had 13 children. Only 8 of them lived to be adults.

Sources

• Lynch, John. "Charles III". Encyclopædia Britannica Online