Carlos of Portugal

He was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the son of King Luís Filipe and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy daughter of united Italy's first King. He became King on October 10 1889. An intelligent but vastly extravagent man, Carlos' policies, image of wastefulness and extramarital affairs effectively sealed the fate of the Poruguese monarchy. Colonial treaties with the United Kingdom (one signed in August 1890 that defined their African borders along the Zambesi and Congo rivers and another signed on October 14, 1899, that confirmed colonial treaties of the 17th Century) stabilised the situation in Africa. Domestically, Portugal was twice declared bankrupt - on June 14, 1892, and again on May 10, 1902 - causing industrial disturbances, socialist and republican antagonism and press criticism of the monarchy. Carlos responded by appointing General João Franco as military dictator, but on February 1, 1908, the King and his eldest son, Crown Prince Luis Felipe were shot dead in the streets of Lisbon.

He was married to Princess Amélie d'Orléans in 1886. Their children were

• (1887): Luís Filipe Maria Carlos Amélio Fernando Victor Manoel António Lourenço Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis Bento (Crown Prince) (d. 1908)
• (1889):Manuel II of Portugal Maria Filipe Carlos Amélio Luís Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Eugénio (King of Portugal and Algarves, deposed 1910, d. 1932)
• (1887): Infanta Maria Anna (d.1887)
• (1907) : Maria Pia de Saxe-Coburg-Gotha-Braganca, his illegitimate daughter by Maria Amelia Laredo e Murca. (She was legitimised and, following the death of Manuel II, assumed the position of head of the Royal House in the view of some Portuguese royalists. She 'abdicated' in 1987, passing the position to the Duke of Bragança, who was already perceived as a pretender by other royalists.)

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