Charles X of France

Charles X of France ascended the throne in 1824, inheriting a nation defined by the political fractures of the Bourbon Restoration. As the younger brother of Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, his reign represented the final attempt of the senior Bourbon branch to assert absolute authority by divine right, ultimately resulting in his abdication following the July Revolution of 1830.

Early Life at Versailles

Born at the Palace of Versailles in 1757 to the Dauphin Louis and Marie Josèphe, Charles Philippe was styled the Count of Artois. His early years were shaped by significant family losses; his father died in 1765 and his mother in 1767, leaving him orphaned at age nine. Raised under the guidance of the Governess of the Children of France, Madame de Marsan, he initially stood far from the throne until the deaths of elder siblings shifted his position in the succession.

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Court Life and Expenditure

In 1773, he married Marie Thérèse of Savoy, with whom he had two sons, Louis Antoine and Charles Ferdinand. During the 1770s, he became a prominent figure in the social circle of Marie Antoinette, engaging in amateur theater at the Petit Trianon. His lifestyle was marked by profligacy, notably the construction of the Château de Bagatelle, which was completed in sixty-three days in 1775 to win a wager against the queen. By the 1780s, his accumulated debts reached 21 million livres, necessitating intervention from King Louis XVI.

Political Leadership and Abdication

As heir presumptive, Charles emerged as the leader of the ultra-royalist faction, rejecting the constitutional concessions of the Charter of 1814. Upon his accession in 1824, his administration moved to strengthen the Catholic Church and compensate former landowners for losses incurred during the revolution. The appointment of Prince Jules de Polignac as premier proved destabilizing. Following the defeat of his government in the 1830 elections, Charles issued the July Ordinances to restrict the press and disband the Chamber of Deputies, triggering the riots that forced his departure from power.

Exile and Final Years

After abdicating the throne, Charles lived in exile as a citizen of France and Spain. He spent his final years away from the center of political life, eventually settling in Gorizia, where he died in 1836. He was buried at the Annunciation Parish Church in what is now Nova Gorica. Throughout his life, he held various titles and honors, including Colonel General, Knight of the Garter, and Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Fast facts

Born: 1757, Versailles
Died: 1836, Gorizia
Reign: 1824-1830
Military rank: Colonel General
Religion: Catholic Church
French co-prince of Andorra: 1824-1830
Burial place: Annunciation Parish Church, Nova Gorica

Questions readers ask

What caused the fall of Charles X?

His attempt to bypass the legislature through the July Ordinances, which restricted the press and modified electoral laws, led to the July Revolution of 1830.