Carlos VII of Spain (30 March 1848-18 July 1909) was King of Spain from 1872 to 1876, succeeding Amadeo I of Spain and preceding Alfonso XII of Spain. He was a Carlist and had legitimate rule of Spain during the time of the First Spanish Republic (1873-1874), late reign of Amadeo I, and early reign of Alfonso XII. Alfonso XII personally crushed his revolt in 1876 and Carlos was deposed. He was also titular king of France as Charles XI of France.
Biography[]
Carlos Maria de los Dolores Juan Isidro Jose Francisco Quirico Antonio Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Borbon was born in Carinola (Slovenia) in the Austrian Empire to the House of Bourbon's Carlist sub-branch, who were claimants to the title of king of Spain. He was also a claimant to the title of King of France, as the Bourbon "legitimitists" were opposed to the House of Orleans from 1830 to 1848, the French Republic from 1848-1852 and 1870-present, and the House of Bonaparte from 1852 to 1870. He made a dynastic marriage to Margherita of Bourbon-Parma, a distant relative through the House of Bourbon.
During the Third Carlist War (1872-1876) he was supported as the King of Spain by Carlists who forced King Amadeo I of Spain to abdicate in 1873. The weak First Spanish Republic collapsed in 1874, but they gave rise to King Alfonso XII of Spain, and on 27 February 1876 the government captured Pamplona and Carlos VII fled to France, ending his legitimate rule. He died in Varese, Italy in 1909, a claimant to the thrones of Spain and France.