Carlos I of Portugal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carlos I
Photograph c. 1907
King of Portugal
Reign	19 October 1889 – 1 February 1908
Acclamation	28 December 1889
Predecessor	Luís I
Successor	Manuel II
Prime Ministers	See list José Luciano de Castro António Serpa João Crisóstomo José Dias Ferreira Hintze Ribeiro João Franco
Born	Carlos Fernando Luís Maria Victor Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis José Simão de Bragança-Saxe-Coburgo e Gota 28 September 1863 Ajuda Palace, Lisbon, Portugal
Died	1 February 1908 (aged 44) Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon, Portugal
Burial	Pantheon of the Braganzas
Spouse	Amélie of Orléans ​ (m. 1886)​
Issue	Luís Filipe, Prince Royal Infanta Maria Ana Manuel II of Portugal
House	Braganza
Father	Luís I
Mother	Maria Pia of Savoy
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Dom Carlos I (born 28 September 1863 – died 1 February 1908) was the King of Portugal from 1889 until he was assassinated in 1908. He was also known as the Diplomat, the Martyr, and the Oceanographer. He was the first Portuguese king to die a violent death since King Sebastian in 1578.

Early Life and Education

The baptism of Dom Carlos, c. 1863

Carlos I of Portugal on a 20 Reis coin, 1891

Carlos was born in Lisbon, Portugal. His parents were King Luís and Queen Maria Pia. His mother was the daughter of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. Carlos was part of the House of Braganza, a royal family. He had one brother, Infante Afonso.

Carlos received a very good education. He was prepared to rule as a constitutional monarch. This means he would be king, but a parliament would also share power. In 1883, he traveled to Italy, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. These trips helped him learn a lot about the modern world. He even ruled as a Regent (a temporary ruler) three times when his father was away. His father, King Luís I, told him to be humble and study hard.

Carlos first thought about marrying a daughter of the German Emperor Frederick III. But their different religions caused a problem. The British government also put pressure on them, so the marriage did not happen. Later, he met and married Princess Amélie of Orléans in 1886. She was the daughter of Philippe, comte de Paris, who wanted to be the King of France.

His Time as King

Photograph of Infante Carlos, c. 1886

Carlos became king on 19 October 1889. During his reign, Portugal signed important agreements with the United Kingdom. These agreements helped set the borders of their colonies in Africa. Portugal had a dream called the "Pink Map." This was a plan to connect their colonies of Angola and Mozambique across central Africa. However, these new treaties meant that much of this land became part of the British Empire. This made many people in Portugal unhappy.

At home, Portugal faced tough times. The country went bankrupt twice, in 1892 and 1902. This led to problems in factories and growing anger from groups who wanted a republic instead of a monarchy. The newspapers also criticized the king. To deal with this, Carlos made João Franco his prime minister. He also allowed the parliament to be closed down.

King Carlos was very interested in science and art. In 1894, he helped celebrate the 500th birthday of Prince Henry the Navigator, a famous Portuguese explorer. The next year, he honored the Portuguese poet João de Deus.

Carlos also loved the ocean. He took a personal interest in exploring the deep sea. He used several yachts, all named Amélia, for his ocean trips. He even wrote a book about his own studies of the ocean. This is why he was sometimes called "the Oceanographer."

The Assassination

Portrait of Carlos I by Alfredo Roque Gameiro, c. 1902

On 1 February 1908, King Carlos and his family were returning to Lisbon. They had been hunting in the countryside. They traveled by train and then by boat across the Tagus River. When they got off the boat in Lisbon, they got into an open carriage. As they rode through a main square called Terreiro do Paço, shots were fired.

Two men, Alfredo Luís da Costa and Manuel Buíça, were behind the attack. Buíça, a former soldier, fired several shots from a rifle. King Carlos died right away. His oldest son and heir, Luís Filipe, was badly wounded and died soon after. His younger son, Prince Manuel, was hit in the arm but survived. Queen Amélie was not hurt. The two attackers were killed by the police on the spot.

The royal carriage quickly went to a nearby building. About twenty minutes later, Prince Luís Filipe passed away. A few days later, the younger son, Prince Manuel, became the new King of Portugal. He was the last king of Portugal.

Family Life

Carlos I and Dona Maria Amélia with their firstborn son, 1888

Carlos I married Princess Amélie of Orléans in 1886. They had three children:

• Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal (1887–1908)
• Infanta Maria Ana of Braganza (born and died on December 14, 1887)
• Manuel II, King of Portugal (1889–1932)

There was a woman named Maria Pia of Saxe-Coburg and Braganza who claimed to be King Carlos I's daughter. She said he had made her a legitimate heir. However, there was no clear proof of this, and the king did not have the power to do this on his own. Her claim was not widely accepted.

Honours and Awards

King Carlos I received many important honours and awards, both from Portugal and other countries. These awards showed his importance and the respect he earned.

Portuguese Awards

• Grand Commander of the Three Military Orders of Christ, Aviz, and St. James
• Grand Cross of the Tower and Sword
• Grand Cross of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

Awards from Other Countries

See also

In Spanish: Carlos I de Portugal para niños