Reprehensible Facts About King Charles X Of France, The Enemy Of The People

He Just Wanted To Be King

Charles X of France lived in the lap of luxury and privilege once he ascended to the throne following the Bourbon Restoration—but his ultra-royalist policies clashed with the new liberal views of the French people post-Revolution. 

It all came to a head with a harrowing escape—and a humiliating exile.

1. He Was Far From The Throne

Charles Philippe was born in 1757 at the Palace of Versailles in what seemed like the halcyon days of the Bourbon dynasty. As the son of the Dauphin Louis and Dauphine Marie Josèphe, he enjoyed luxury beyond imagination. His grandfather, King Louis XV, even created the title “Count of Artois” just for him. 

However, as the youngest son of the heir to the throne, it seemed highly unlikely that he would ever get the crown. But fate was already working in his favor.

 François Gérard, Wikimedia Commons

2. His Family’s Losses Were His Gain

In 1761, a terrible family tragedy brought Charles one step closer to the throne. His eldest brother, the Duke of Burgundy, passed from a sudden illness at the age of nine. Then, not even five years later, his father also passed on, making Charles second-in-line for the throne after his next oldest brother, Louis Auguste.

But fate wasn't finished with Charles's family just yet.

 Jean-Martial Frédou, Wikimedia Commons

3. He Was An Orphan Royal

Charles’ mother, Marie Josèphe, took the loss of her husband and eldest son particularly hard and never truly recovered. In a cruel and ironic twist, she wouldn’t have to suffer long. In 1767, she succumbed to tuberculosis, making Charles and his four surviving siblings orphans. 

Suddenly, the survival of the Bourbon family line was in doubt.

 Jean-Marc Nattier, Wikimedia Commons

4. His Wife Was No Looker

In an effort to shore up his family’s lineage and power, Charles performed his first royal duty at the age of 16 when he married Marie Thérèse of Savoy. But she wasn’t exactly a catch. Charles’ contemporaries described his new wife as “diminutive, somewhat ill-shaped, clumsy and with a long nose”. 

It’s not like she was a great conversationalist either.

 Ignazio Giovanni Vittoriano Campana, Wikimedia Commons

5. He Married A “Complete Idiot”

Criticism of Charles’ new wife continued without mercy. While Marie’s contemporaries conceded that she had a nice complexion and was “goodhearted,” that’s about where the compliments ended. After visiting France shortly after the marriage, the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II called Marie “a complete idiot”. 

Clearly, the couple were horribly mismatched.

 François-Hubert Drouais, Wikimedia Commons

6. He Was The Best-Looking Bourbon Around

Unlike his wife, Charles was, supposedly, very easy on the eyes. His peers considered him to be the most handsome member of his family, having inherited the good looks of his grandfather, Louis XV. Given the clear mismatch in attractiveness between himself and his wife, Charles wasn’t shy about seeking comfort elsewhere—the consequences be darned.

 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Wikimedia Commons

7. He Had No Shortage Of Lovers

Charles had an insatiable appetite for romance, and according to the Count of Hézecques, “few beauties were cruel to him”. Among his many conquests was the opera singer, ballerina, and lady of the town Anne Victoire Dervieux. But his greatest love was Louise de Polastron—an affair that sparked even greater scandal. 

 Alexander Kucharsky, Wikimedia Commons

8. He Had A Scandalously Close Bond With Marie Antoinette

Charles’ affair with de Polastron brought him into the intimate inner circle of his sister-in-law, Marie Antoinette. In fact, his close and intimate friendship with Antoinette led to ugly rumors. Parisian gossip mongers insinuated that Charles had seduced the queen and wife of his brother. The pair did little to dispel the rumors.

 Jean-Baptiste André Gautier-Dagoty, Wikimedia Commons

9. He Starred In Marie Antoinette’s Personal Theater

Marie Antoinette and her inner circle often retreated from court to Château Petit Trianon, where they performed in private plays. And her alleged—albeit unproven—lover, Charles, always had a central role. He often played the role of lovers and peasants opposite the queen’s shepherdesses and country maidens. 

That wasn’t the only way the close friends turned heads.

 Henri-Pierre Danloux, Wikimedia Commons

10. He Built A Château On A Dare

In Marie Antoinette, Charles had a friend whose opulent lifestyle matched his own. Famously, he made a wager with his sister-in-law over the Château de Bagatelle. In 1775, he purchased a small hunting lodge in the Bois de Boulogne, intending to completely rebuild it. Marie Antoinette bet him that he couldn’t finish it in three months. 

Never one to back down from a challenge, Charles got to work. Or, rather, he broke out his checkbook.

 Chapuy, Nicolas Marie Joseph, Wikimedia Commons

11. He Won—But At A Ridiculous Cost

To win his bet with Marie Antoinette, Charles pulled out all the stops. And by stops, we mean cash. He hired the famed architect François-Joseph Bélanger and had him working round the clock. In the end, Bélanger completed the Château de Bagatelle in just 63 days. The final cost: over two million livres. 

But that wasn’t even half of his tab.

 After Antoine-François Callet, Wikimedia Commons

12. He Spent Money Like It Was His Job

If Charles had any financial sense, he kept it well hidden. Throughout the 1770s, he burned through money at an astonishing rate, amassing a whopping 21 million livres in debt. By the 1780s, his finances were so disastrous that his brother, King Louis XVI, had to step in and bail him out. 

Charles did, at least, perform one royal duty in exchange.

 Alexander Roslin, Wikimedia Commons

13. He Fathered The Next Generation Of Bourbons

Despite preferring his mistresses, Charles still managed to perform his dynastic duty. In 1775, his wife gave birth to their first son, Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême—the first legitimate Bourbon of the next generation. Three years later, his second son, Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, was born. 

Not everyone in his family proved so prolific.

 Rosalie Filleul, Wikimedia Commons

14. He Watched His Brother Become A Laughingstock

Thanks to his lavish spending and open affairs, Charles had developed a reputation as King Louis XVI’s reckless younger brother. But, for once, he wasn’t the one being mocked. Since neither King Louis XVI nor the Count of Provence had fathered children yet, pamphleteers in Paris had a field day, speculating about the king’s supposed impotence.

Pretty soon, however, he’d reclaim the title of the family’s black sheep.

 Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, Wikimedia Commons

15. He Made A Scandalous Entrance At A Masked Ball

On Mardi Gras 1778, the glittering court of Versailles gathered for a masked ball. Charles, of course, attended in disguise along with a new mistress, believing that their masks would hide their true identities. But one keen-eyed observer recognized him immediately: the Duchess of Bourbon, Bathilde d'Orléans.

Worse yet, she recognized the woman he was with.

 Louis-Michel van Loo, Wikimedia Commons

16. He Brought A Married Woman To The Ball

Despite the elaborate disguises of the Mardi Gras masked ball, the Duchess of Bourbon recognized his companion for the evening: Anne-Michelle-Dorothée de Roncherolles, Comtesse de Canillac. Not only was she a lady-in-waiting to Charles's sister, Princess Elisabeth, but she also happened to be married.

A serious scandal was brewing.

 Antoningalba, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

17. He Tried To Just Blend In

Charles’ carefree night at the Royal Opera of Versailles took a turn for the worse when he and the Comtesse de Canillac realized that the Duchesse de Bourbon was watching them. The Duchess, no stranger to court scandals, was already piecing the affair together. To avoid an immediate confrontation, Charles and his de Canillac separated into the crowd.

But the damage was done.

 Sophie de Tott, Wikimedia Commons

18. He Had Just Walked Into A Royal Feud

If Charles had thought the Duchess of Bourbon would simply let his little affair go, he was gravely mistaken. De Canillac had once been the Duchess’ lady-in-waiting, but after capturing her husband’s affections, the Duchess threw her out of the household. To see her again—arm in arm with the king’s brother, no less—was a deliberate insult. British Museum, Wikimedia Commons

19. His Cousin Ripped His Beard Off

Charles still believed that his disguise would keep him safe from scandal—but the Duchess of Bourbon had other plans. As he took a seat to recover from the night’s tension, she sat beside him and hatched her plan. After a few courteous words, the Duchess lunged for his mask, ripping away his false beard. 

The jig was up—but the madness was only beginning.

 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Wikimedia Commons

20. He Humiliated The Duchess Of Bourbon

Charles could not believe the Duchess’s brash move and breach of etiquette. Enraged by her public stunt, he grabbed her mask in return and crushed it against her face with such force that she burst into tears. Then, without a single word, he rose from his seat, turned his back on her, and left her humiliated in front of the entire Versailles elite.

But if Charles thought he'd heard the last of this, he was very wrong.

 Pierre Adrien Le Beau, Wikimedia Commons

21. He Became The Talk Of The Town

The scandal didn’t end when Charles walked away—it got worse. The next evening, the Duchess of Bourbon hosted a lavish dinner and proceeded to tell her guests what had transpired. Adding a few lies and embellishments, she painted herself as the victim of an unprovoked attack, whipping her guests into a fit of righteous indignation.

By the end of the night, the French aristocracy demanded revenge.

 British Museum, Wikimedia Commons

22. He Was Forced Into a Duel—Or Something Like It

The court’s thirst for justice soon spiraled out of control. The public demanded that Charles and the Duke of Bourbon, the Duchess’ husband, settle their grievance with a duel. Marie Antoinette, wanting to defend her friend and brother-in-law, intervened as an intermediary. Together with Baron de Besenval they came up with a genius idea: give the people what they want.

Instead of a real duel, however, they agreed to stage one. And Charles, ever the amateur actor, was happy to oblige.

 Joseph Ducreux, Wikimedia Commons

23. He Met His Match In The Woods

On the arranged day, Charles and the Duke “coincidentally” crossed paths at the Bois de Boulogne. Charles, still on horseback, greeted his opponent with a playful smirk: “Monsieur, the public claims that we are looking for each other”. The Duke, playing along, removed his hat and bowed, saying, “Monsieur, I am here to receive your orders”.

The “duel” was set to begin.

 British Museum, Picryl

24. He Had A Mock Duel

Charles and the Duke drew their swords in preparation for their “duel”. But their gentle jests were the sharpest blades they’d cross. The Duke, ever the gentleman, warned Charles about the glare from the sun. “You are right,” Charles winked in acknowledgement. Instead of lunging into combat, the two men strolled to a shaded wall where they proceeded with their sham duel.

 Thomas Lawrence, Wikimedia Commons

25. He Barely Took His Duel Seriously

At the wall, Charles and the Duke dramatically removed their shirts and spurs, drawing out the theatrics for the waiting crowd. Then, they crossed blades—but it was all for show. The fight lacked the intensity of a real duel, and both men knew it. They fenced for appearance’s sake, careful to ensure neither left with anything more than a scratch.

However, there would be blood.

 Charles Boulanger de Boisfremont, Wikimedia Commons

26. He Ended The Duel With A Hug

Charles’ mock duel nearly turned into a real one. As the two exchanged half-hearted sword swings, the Chevalier de Crussol suddenly stepped in, believing that Charles had actually grievously wounded the Duke under the arm. Fortunately, it was all part of the ruse, and Charles and the Duke ended their feud with an embrace.

Other versions of events, however, tell of a different ending.

 Horace Vernet, Wikimedia Commons

27. He May Have Been Wounded—Or Maybe Not

Following the duel, rumors quickly began spreading around Versailles—just as intended. One of the rumors was that the fuel ended when the Duke wounded Charles’ hand. However, contemporary witnesses, including the Baron de Besenval and the Chevalier de Crussol, made no mention of any injuries.

At least, no physical ones.

 Pierre-Louis Delaval, Wikimedia Commons

28. He Wanted Reform—But On His Terms

Charles had been content with his unserious, frivolous lifestyle—until the monarchy faced financial ruin in 1786. France was drowning in debt from its overseas commitments, and the government needed drastic reforms. Charles supported taxing the aristocracy, but he refused to surrender the privileges of the nobility and the Church. In his own words, it was “time for repair, not demolition”.

 Atelier de François Gérard, Wikimedia Commons

29. He Was More Royalist Than The King

In 1789, as the monarchy’s—and, by extension, Charles’s—financial crisis deepened. Hoping to push through much-needed reforms, King Louis XVI convened the Estates General. But Charles, ever the hardline conservative, opposed the Third Estate’s demands for greater power. Even his brother accused him of being “plus royaliste que le roi”—more of a royalist than the king himself.

His hardline, ultra-royalist ambitions would bring ruin to his household.

 Antoine-François Callet, Wikimedia Commons

30. He Helped Spark The French Revolution

Charles, still wanting his way, conspired against his brother to oust the liberal finance minister, Jacques Necker. But Charles, impatient as ever, pulled the trigger on his scheme too early, forcing Necker’s dismissal on July 11, 1789. His timing couldn’t have been worse. 

In light of Necker’s firing, the people revolted, culminating in the Storming of the Bastille. He had unwittingly sparked a revolution—and not for the last time.

 After Joseph-Siffred Duplessis, Wikimedia Commons

31. He Fled France

As the French Revolution unfolded—in no small part thanks to Charles’ actions—Charles fled Paris with his family and a handful of close courtiers. While many believed that he was fleeing in cowardice, modern historians suggest that Louis XVI had secretly approved of his brother’s escape, fearing the monarchy’s future was already in jeopardy.

He was definitely right about that part.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

32. He Became A Noble Nomad

With France no longer safe, Charles and his family sought refuge in Savoy, his wife’s homeland. There, they reunited with members of the Condé family, another branch of the Bourbon dynasty. But exile was not to be a single destination—Charles soon moved on to Turin, then eventually to Trier, Germany, under his uncle’s protection.

 Wellcome Images, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

33. He Abandoned His Wife Forever

By 1791, Charles was on the move again—but this time, he left without his wife. As per his instructions, Marie Thérèse remained behind in Savoy, marking the beginning of their permanent separation. In fact, Charles refused to see her again, even forbidding her from attending their son’s wedding. When she passed on in 1805, they had spent more than a decade apart, never reconciling.

He had only room for one thing in his heart: his family’s lost throne.

 Charles Le Clercq, Wikimedia Commons

34. He Planned To Invade France

Charles wasted no time plotting to restore the monarchy. He gathered royalist forces for an invasion of France, but Marie Antoinette pleaded for a delay, fearing for her family’s safety as they were trapped in Paris. Sadly, by the time he was ready to mobilize again, it would be too late.

 Daniel Saint, Wikimedia Commons

35. He Couldn’t Save His Brother

As Charles plotted from exile, his brother and sister-in-law rotted away in a cell. By the time he had assembled an army, it was too late—the revolutionary forces had abolished the monarchy. From across the border, Charles could do nothing as the mobs dragged Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the guillotine.

 Jean-François Garneray, Wikimedia Commons

36. He Found Safe Haven In Britain

When Revolutionary France descended into chaos, Charles fled yet again, this time finding safe refuge in Great Britain. Luckily for him, King George III rolled out the red carpet, even providing him with a lavish allowance. Bouncing between Edinburgh and London, Charles settled down with his longtime mistress, Louise de Polastron.

However, Great Britain was never home for Charles.

 Allan Ramsay, Wikimedia Commons

37. He Made A Triumphant Return To France

In January 1814, after more than two decades in exile, Charles saw his chance to reclaim his throne. Slipping away from London in secret, he raced to join the Coalition forces in southern France as they closed in on Napoleon. With his older brother, Louis XVIII, too frail to lead, Charles took charge, holding a royal decree that named him Lieutenant General of France.

By April, Napoleon abdicated, paving the way for Charles’ return.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

38. He Made His Own Secret Service

As Lieutenant General, Charles wasted no time shaping the new France in his own image. While the newly-crowned King Louis XVIII was still in England, Charles covertly established an ultra-royalist secret service, operating without the king’s knowledge. This network of informants spied on political opponents and crushed dissent, surviving for five years in the shadows.

That wasn’t the only way he undermined his brother’s rule.

 Robert Lefèvre, Wikimedia Commons

39. He Clashed With His Own Brother

Even if he was glad to see his family back in power, he rarely agreed with Louis XVIII’s policies. While the new king tried to balance royalist and liberal factions in the new Bourbon Restoration, Charles backed the most extreme ultra-royalists in parliament, including François-René de Chateaubriand. Louis feared that his brother’s extreme views would unseat the dynasty once again.

He wasn’t wrong.

 François Gérard, Wikimedia Commons

40. He Suffered A Devastating Loss

Just when Charles’ family’s position seemed secure, tragedy struck once more. While attending a performance at the Paris Opera, Charles’ younger son, the Duke of Berry, fell prey to an assassin. The loss of the third-in-line was a political nightmare that sent shockwaves through the royal family and left the Bourbon succession hanging by a thread.

A crisis was on the horizon.

 Musée Carnavalet, Wikimedia Commons

41. He Wanted To Change The Rules

With the Duke of Berry gone, France faced a succession crisis. At Charles’ insistence, parliament debated changing the law to allow women to ascend to the throne. But before anything drastic could happen, Caroline of Naples and Sicily, Berry’s widow, announced she was pregnant. 

When she gave birth to Henry, Duke of Bordeaux, Charles and all of France celebrated the child as “God-given”.

 Thomas Lawrence, Wikimedia Commons

42. He Finally Became King

By 1824, Charles’ elder brother King Louis XVIII was rotting alive—quite actually. The king had dry and wet gangrene spreading through his legs and spine. Then, on September 16, 1824, the inevitable finally happened: Louis XVIII succumbed and Charles, at 66 years of age, at last took the throne. 

The only question was, how long could he keep it?

 Jean-Baptiste Paulin Guérin, Wikimedia Commons

43. His Coronation Was A Grand Affair

Charles knew he was ruling a fractured France—some longed for the Ancien Régime, while others wanted the monarchy gone. His coronation was designed to be a compromise, blending old royal tradition with the new political reality. Even the celebrated writer Chateaubriand praised him, calling Charles “pious like Saint Louis, affable like Louis XII, and frank as Henry IV”.

But not everyone was quite so convinced.

 François Gérard, Wikimedia Commons

44. His Coronation Confused The Nation

For all its pomp and grandeur, Charles’ coronation failed to inspire. Many viewed it as a relic of a bygone era, an unnecessary spectacle in a country that had already overthrown one king—and wouldn’t hesitate to overthrow another. While the public wasn’t openly hostile to their new king, they weren’t exactly moved to tears either.

And Charles didn’t give them much reason to come around.

 Fab5669, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

45. He Installed Ultra-Royalist Sympathizers

At first, Charles seemed to embrace liberal reforms, doing away with press censorship and touring northern and eastern France to connect with the people. But, behind the scenes, he installed ultra-royalists such as Joseph de Villèle throughout his government, making it clear where his true loyalties lay. 

His next moves left no doubt what he truly wanted.

 Jean Sébastien Rouillard, Wikimedia Commons

46. He Issued Onerous Ordinances

By March 1830, after a series of setbacks, Charles had lost control of parliament, getting a frosty reception when he addressed the assembly. When the elections that year failed to produce a pro-royalist majority, Charles took it personally.

In a fit of righteous indignation, he issued four ordinances: censoring the press, dissolving parliament, changing the electoral system, and calling for rigged elections. 

Instead of securing his power, he lit the match that would burn his throne.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

47. He Incited A Rebellion—Again

Charles believed his July Ordinances would quell dissent—instead, they ignited a rebellion…again. On July 26, 1830, outraged journalists gathered at Le National to denounce the king. The next morning, the monarchist mouthpiece, Le Moniteur Universel, published the ordinances. Journalists responded with a call-to-arms of their own: “Obedience ceases to be a duty!”

Charles, once again, had a revolt on his hands.

 Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

48. He Provoked His People Into Revolution

As Paris exploded into unrest, Charles's government panicked. Crowds flooded the Palais-Royal gardens with chants of “Down with the Bourbons!” and “Long live the Charter!” Instead of ceding ground, however, Charles doubled down and ordered a crackdown on the protestors. What ensued was riots, looting, and clashes between authorities and the people.

 Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

49. His Cousin Took His Crown

Desperate to stop the revolution, a delegation of deputies begged Charles to revoke his controversial ordinances. However, Charles refused to back down from his untenable position. But, by late July, it no longer mattered. The Chamber of Deputies declared his distant cousin, Louis-Philippe d’Orléans, the new king, plastering posters of their decision across Paris.

By day’s end, Charles X had lost everything.

 Louise Adélaïde Desnos, Wikimedia Commons

50. He Gave Up His Throne

By August of 1830, Charles simply acknowledged the inevitable: his rule had come to an end. He abdicated, signing a declaration that forced his own son, the Dauphin, to abdicate as well in favor of his grandson, Henry, Duke of Bordeaux. However, the plan nearly collapsed when the Dauphin refused to sign away his rights.

According to contemporary reports, father and son engaged in a furious shouting match behind closed doors. But, after several minutes, Charles convinced his son to sign the declaration.

 Jebulon, Wikimedia Commons

51. His Last Wish Was Ignored

Despite Charles’ desperate maneuver, Louis-Philippe had no intention of recognizing the young Duke of Bordeaux as king. Instead, on August 9, 1830, the Chamber of Deputies officially crowned Louis-Philippe as “King of the French”, completely ignoring Charles's abdication decree. 

With that, the Bourbon monarchy was finished, and Charles was left as a king without a kingdom.

 Eugène Devéria, Wikimedia Commons

52. He Fled France In Disguise

Stripped of power, Charles and his family fled as an angry mob of 14,000 closed in. They managed to escape to Britain on steamships using fake names, but their humiliation was far from over. When they arrived, the British greeted them coldly, mockingly waving tricolor flags—the flag of the liberal movement—in their faces as they disembarked.

 Jean-Pierre Franque, Wikimedia Commons

53. His Life Ended In Exile

Seeking warmer climates, to ease the chill from having lost his throne, Charles settled along Austria’s Mediterranean coast (now Slovenia) in October 1835. But his journey ended in tragedy. Upon arriving in Gorizia, Slovenia, he caught cholera, succumbing to the disease on November 6, 1836. The townspeople, unlike his erstwhile French subjects, mourned him, draping their windows in black cloth.

His body was laid to rest in the Franciscan Kostanjevica Monastery, making him the only King of France buried outside his homeland.

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 Ziga, Wikimedia Commons

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4