Charles II of Spain: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Charles II of Spain? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Charles II (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700) was king of Spain from 1665 to 1700. The last monarch from the House of Habsburg, which had ruled Spain since 1516, his death without children resulted in the 1701 to 1714 War of the Spanish Succession. For reasons still debated, Charles experienced lengthy periods of ill health throughout his life. This made the question of who would succeed him central to European diplomacy for much of his reign, with one historian writing that "from the day of his birth, they were waiting for his death". The two candidates for the succession were Charles of Austria, and Philip of Anjou, the 16-year-old grandson of Louis XIV of France. Shortly before dying in November 1700, Charles made the latter his heir, but the acquisition of an undivided Spanish Empire by either threatened the European balance of power and resulted in war.
Quick facts about Charles II of Spain
- Full name: Charles II of Spain
- Born: 1661-11-06
- Nationality: Spain
- Known as: Royal
- Wikidata ID: Q36174
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Charles II of Spain?
Charles II (6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700) was king of Spain from 1665 to 1700.
What nationality is Charles II of Spain?
Charles II of Spain is Spain.
When was Charles II of Spain born?
Charles II of Spain was born on 1661-11-06.
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