Charles X (1757-1836) was king of France from 1824 to 1830. He belonged to the royal Bourbon family of France. Born on Oct. 9, 1757, at Versailles, Charles was the younger brother of Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII. Near the start of the French Revolution (1789-1799), Charles fled France, and he soon went to Britain (later the United Kingdom). He returned to France in 1814. Charles succeeded Louis XVIII as king in 1824. As king, Charles tried to restore the power of the monarchy and increase the authority of the church and aristocracy in France. His measures drew increasing opposition from French liberals. In 1830, after the enactment of new laws restricting freedom of the press, liberals and artisans in Paris overthrew Charles in an uprising called the July Revolution. The leaders of the revolution replaced him with Louis Philippe, and Charles fled to the United Kingdom. He died on Nov. 6, 1836. See also July Revolution.
