Charles X (1757–1836) was the last Bourbon monarch to rule France, reigning from 1824 to 1830. He succeeded his brother, Louis XVIII. Charles X’s reign witnessed a conservative and authoritarian approach, which led to political tensions and ultimately the July Revolution of 1830. Following his abdication, he lived in exile until his death. Charles X’s rule is often associated with attempts to restore absolute monarchy, contributing to the broader narrative of political upheaval in 19th-century France.
Charles X was the younger brother of Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, and he spent his early years amidst the splendors of the French court. His youth was shaped by the turbulence of the late 18th century, witnessing the increasing discontent that eventually led to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789.
As the Revolution unfolded, Charles X, like many aristocrats, faced the upheaval of his privileged life. He emigrated to various European courts, including England, where he lived in exile. During this period, he actively opposed the revolutionary forces, aligning himself with monarchist and counter-revolutionary movements. Charles X, however, faced setbacks and challenges during the revolutionary and Napoleonic periods, and his aspirations for a Bourbon restoration seemed distant.
The tide turned in 1814 with the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Treaty of Fontainebleau paved the way for the return of the Bourbon monarchy, and Charles X’s older brother, Louis XVIII, assumed the throne. Charles X returned to France after years in exile and found himself in a new political landscape shaped by the constitutional monarchy established under Louis XVIII.
Louis XVIII’s reign was characterized by a pragmatic approach, as he sought to reconcile royalist ideals with the realities of post-revolutionary France. Charles X, however, harbored more conservative views and longed for a return to absolute monarchy. Despite differences in their political philosophies, Charles X served as Lieutenant General of the Kingdom and played a role in various administrative capacities during his brother’s reign.
The death of Louis XVIII in 1824 led to Charles X’s ascension to the throne. At the age of 66, he became King of France on September 16, 1824. His reign, known as the Bourbon Restoration, entered a new phase under Charles X, marked by efforts to roll back the constitutional reforms of the preceding decades.
Charles X’s political vision was rooted in a desire to restore the authority of the monarchy, reclaiming powers that had been curtailed by the constitutional charter. His policies, however, faced resistance from a society that had grown accustomed to the constitutional framework established by the Charter of 1814.
One of Charles X’s early decisions was the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies in 1827, reflecting his frustration with the liberal majority that opposed his conservative policies. The subsequent elections, however, did not yield the results he desired, as liberals maintained a significant presence in the chamber.
In an attempt to secure his vision for an absolute monarchy, Charles X issued the Four Ordinances in July 1830. These decrees aimed to restrict freedom of the press, dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, alter electoral laws, and suspend civil liberties. The ordinances triggered widespread opposition, with liberals and republicans rallying against what they perceived as an attack on constitutional rights.
The July Revolution of 1830 erupted in response to Charles X’s actions. The people of Paris took to the streets, barricades were erected, and clashes with government forces ensued. Faced with mounting opposition and realizing the untenable situation, Charles X abdicated the throne on August 2, 1830, in favor of his young grandson, Henri, Duke of Bordeaux.
The July Revolution marked the end of the Bourbon Restoration and the establishment of the July Monarchy under Louis-Philippe, the “Citizen King.” Charles X went into exile in England, where he lived out the remainder of his life. The July Monarchy brought about a more liberal constitutional regime, but the events of 1830 had lasting repercussions on French political and social dynamics.
Charles X’s reign is often remembered as a period of missed opportunities and political miscalculations. His attempts to restore absolute monarchy faced staunch opposition from a society that had embraced the principles of the French Revolution. The July Revolution signaled the shift toward more liberal and democratic ideals in France.
Charles X died in exile on November 6, 1836, at the age of 79. His death marked the end of the direct Bourbon line, as his younger brother Louis Antoine, the last surviving son of the Count of Artois (Charles X), had died in 1830. Despite the challenges and controversies of his reign, Charles X’s legacy lies in his role as a symbol of the Bourbon attempt to reverse the course of French history during a time of profound societal and political change.