卡洛斯一世

Dom Carlos I (Anglicized: Charles I, Carlos Fernando Luís Maria Víctor Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis José Simão; 28 September 1863 – 1 February 1908), known as "the Diplomat" (o Diplomata), "the Oceanographer" (o Oceanógrafo) among many other names, was King of Portugal from 1889 until his assassination in 1908. He was the first Portuguese king to die a violent death since King Sebastian in 1578, the only one to be assassinated, and penultimate Portuguese head of state to die a violent death.

Early life

Carlos was born in Lisbon, Portugal, the son of King Luís and Queen Maria Pia, daughter of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, and was a member of the House of Braganza. He had a brother, Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto. He was baptised with the names Carlos Fernando Luís Maria Víctor Miguel Rafael Gabriel Gonzaga Xavier Francisco de Assis José Simão.

He had an intense education and was prepared to rule as a constitutional monarch. In 1883, he traveled to Italy, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, where he increased his knowledge of the modern civilization of his time. In 1883, 1886 and 1888, he ruled as Regent as his father was traveling in Europe, as had become traditional among the Portuguese constitutional kings. His father Luis I advised him to be modest and to study with focus.

Reign

Carlos became king on 19 October 1889. After the 1890 British Ultimatum, a series of treaties were signed with the United Kingdom. One signed in August 1890 defined colonial borders in Africa along the Zambezi and Congo rivers, whereas another signed on 14 October 1899 confirmed colonial treaties dating back to the 17th century. These treaties stabilised the political balance in Africa, ending Portuguese claims of sovereignty on the Pink Map, a geographical conception of how Portuguese colonies would appear on a map if the territory between the coastal colonies of Angola and Mozambique could be connected with territory in central Africa. These central African territories became part of the British Empire with the Portuguese concession becoming a source of national resentment in the country.

Assassination

On 1 February 1908, the royal family was returning to Lisbon from the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa in Alentejo, where they had spent part of the hunting season during the winter. The royal party traveled by train to Barreiro, from there taking a steamer to cross the Tagus River and disembarking at Cais do Sodré in central Lisbon. On their way to the royal palace, the open carriage containing Carlos I and his family passed through the Terreiro do Paço fronting on the river. In spite of recent political unrest there was no military escort, except for a single mounted officer

riding by the carriage. While the carriage was crossing the square at dusk, shots were fired from amongst the sparse crowd by two republican activists, Alfredo Luís da Costa and Manuel Buíça.

Marriage and children

Carlos I was married to Princess Amélie of Orléans on 22 May 1886. She was the daughter of Philippe, Count of Paris, and Princess Marie Isabelle of Orléans. They had three children:

Luís Filipe, Prince Royal of Portugal (21 March 1887 – 1 February 1908)

Infanta Maria Ana of Braganza (b/d 14 December 1887)

Manuel II, King of Portugal between 1908 and 1910 (15 November 1889 – 2 July 1932)

Allegedly, Carlos I had several extramarital relationships, from which some bastards were born. He may have had a daughter from an American. By Grimaneza Viana de Lima, a Peruvian widow of a Brazilian diplomat, he possibly had a daughter called Maria Pia, born before 1902. Grimaneza was his last great passion.……

Honours

Portuguese

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
• Foreign