His Capetian – Bourbon dynasty is probably the most famous European ruling dynasty (next to the House of Habsburg), because it was on different thrones during for over 1,000 years, and it still rules today in two European countries – Spain and Luxembourg.
On this day Charles Bourbon, interesting for the fact that he continuously ruled in tree different countries, was born. His Capetian – Bourbon dynasty is probably the most famous European ruling dynasty (next to the House of Habsburg), because it sat on different thrones during over 1,000 years and still rules today in two European countries – Spain and Luxemburg.
At the age of 15, Charles Bourbon ruled the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (Italian: Ducato di Parma e Piacenza) – at that time an independent state in Italy, situated between Milan and Tuscany. Why was he made the ruler of Parma? Namely, Charles was a great-grandson of famous French king Louis XIV, also known as the “Sun King”. This powerful king tried to rule over a great part of Europe, and he succeeded in putting his grandson (Charles’s father) on the Spanish throne. Young Charles, as the eldest son of the new Spanish king, was an heir to the throne of Spain. But he also, by his mother’s side, who was a princess of Parma, inherited the Duchy of Parma. So he first began to rule in Parma, but later exchanged this relatively small state for the considerably larger Kingdom of Naples. It was an exchange of some sort with the House of Habsburg (they got Parma and, in return, gave the Bourbons the Kingdom of Naples).
Charles ruled over Naples as a king from the age of 18 till 43. Then his father died so that Charles finally inherited the Spanish throne. At that time Spain owned vast colonies in America – most of what is today called Latin America. Charles was then replaced by his son Ferdinand on the throne of Naples.
