Person

Charles III of Spain

1716–1788 · 18th century · Also known as Charles of Bourbon

Charles III of Spain, previously king of Naples and Sicily, ruled Spain from 1759 to 1788. An enlightened reformer, he promoted roads, trade, academies and royal factories and expelled the Jesuits in 1767. In the Americas his Bourbon Reforms created the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, the Captaincy General of Venezuela and the Internal Provinces, and introduced intendants.

Charles III of Spain
Image: Anton Raphael Mengs · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 profiles

Kingdom of SicilyDeclineKingdom of NaplesMilitary, Impact, SummaryDuchy of Parma and PiacenzaGovernance, Impact, Summary

Mentioned in 8 state histories

Kingdom of NaplesProvince of VenezuelaDuchy of Parma and PiacenzaGovernorate of Buenos AiresBourbon SpainViceroyalty of the Río de la PlataCommandancy General of the Internal ProvincesCaptaincy General of Venezuela

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Charles III of Spain. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/charles-iii-of-spain
MLA
“Charles III of Spain.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/charles-iii-of-spain. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Charles III of Spain.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/charles-iii-of-spain.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Charles III of Spain’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/charles-iii-of-spain (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻