The Carlos of Portugal reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Carlos of Portugal

Carlos, King of Portugal (Eng Charles), Carlos Fernando Luís Maria Victor Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis José Simão of Braganza(September 28 1863 - February 1 1908) was the second to last of Portugal's kings.

He was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the son of King Luís Filipe and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy daughter of Umbero I, the first king of united Italy.

Carlos became King on October 10 1889. An intelligent but vastly extravagant man, Carlos' policies, image of wastefulness and extramarital affairs effectively sealed the fate of the Portuguese 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 of 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)

It was alleged (many years after his death) that Carlos I had had an illegitimate daughter by Maria Amelia Laredo e Murca (a woman not known to have been his mistress): particulars of this claim can be found at Maria Pia of Braganza.

Preceded by: Luis Felipe

List of Portuguese monarchs

Succeeded by: Manuel II

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