The Tree of Europe · Person

Charles IV of Spain

King of Spain from 1788 to 1808 and the son of Charles III. His government, dominated by Godoy, saw war with Revolutionary France and Trafalgar. He abdicated in favour of Ferdinand VII at Aranjuez; the subsequent renunciations at Bayonne transferred his rights to Napoleon.

1748 – 1819King of SpainBourbon · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

Historical portraitCharles IV in redFrancisco de Goya · 1789Public domain · PD-Art / PDM 1.0 · Source

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 12 November 1748 Documented

Death: 19 January 1819 Documented

Role: King of Spain

Dynasty: Bourbon · ES

Territories: Spain (ES) · Navarre (ES) · Castile (ES) · León (ES) · Aragon (ES) · County of Barcelona (ES) · Valencia (ES) · Majorca (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

King · Castile · Reign Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

King · León · Reign Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

King · Aragon · Reign Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

King · Navarre · Reign Pending review1788–1808Branch ruleFrom 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.

Count · County of Barcelona · County Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

King · Valencia · Reign Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

King · Majorca · Reign Pending review1788–1808Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Charles III of SpainDocumentedMaria Amalia of Saxony · ESDocumented

Partners

Maria Luisa of Parma · ESDocumented

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Charles IV of Spain. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1788

Spain7 titles and offices
View titles and jurisdictions
- Castile · ESKing · Effective rule1788–1808
- León · ESKing · Effective rule1788–1808
- Aragon · ESKing · Effective rule1788–1808
- Navarre · ESKing · Branch rule · Upper Navarre after the conquest1788–1808 · From 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.
- County of Barcelona · ESCount · Effective rule1788–1808
- Valencia · ESKing · Effective rule1788–1808
- Majorca · ESKing · Effective rule1788–1808
The monarchy’s crowns and dominions. Portugal retained a separate administration during the dynastic union of 1580–1640. Source for this grouping

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

12 recorded claims · 7 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
12 November 1748
The authority record gives the birth as 1748-11-12.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl IV., Spanien, König · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
19 January 1819
The authority record gives the death as 1819-01-19.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl IV., Spanien, König · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (3/3 with a precise source)

FatherDocumented
Charles III of Spain
The authority record identifies Charles III of Spain (GND 118925059) as father.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl IV., Spanien, König · Relationships: father → GND 118925059
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
MotherDocumented
Maria Amalia of Saxony
The authority record identifies Maria Amalia of Saxony (GND 137353766) as mother.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl IV., Spanien, König · Relationships: mother → GND 137353766
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Maria Luisa of Parma
The authority record identifies Maria Luisa of Parma (GND 102835551) as spouse.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Karl IV., Spanien, König · Relationships: spouse → GND 102835551
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Governments (0/7 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
King · Castile · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · León · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Aragon · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Navarre · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Count · County of Barcelona · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Valencia · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
King · Majorca · 1788–1808
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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