Charles

England: Charles I. was beheaded by his subjects.

Charles II. lived long in exile.

Charles Edward, the Young Pretender, died in poverty and disgrace in France.

France: Charles I., the Bald, marching to repel the invading Saracens, was forsaken by his followers, and died of poison at Brios.

Charles II., the Fat, reigned wretchedly, and died a beggarly dependent on the stinting bounty of the Archbishop of Metz.

Charles III., the Simple, died in the dungeon of Château Thierry.

Charles IV., the Fair, reigned six years, married thrice, but buried all his children except one daughter, who was forbidden by the Salic law to succeed to the crown.

Charles VI. lived and died an idiot or madman.

Charles VII. starved himself to death.

Charles VIII. smashed his head against the lintel of a doorway in the Château Amboise, and died in agony.

Charles IX. died at the age of twenty-four, harrowed in conscience for the part he had taken in the “Massacre of St. Bartholomew.”

Charles X. spent a quarter of a century in exile, and when he succeeded to the throne, fled for his life and died in exile.

Charles le Téméraire, of Burgundy, lost his life at Nancy, where he was utterly defeated by the Swiss.

Naples: Charles I. saw the French massacred in the “Sicilian Vespers,” and experienced only disasters.

Charles II., the Lame, was in captivity at his father’s death.

Charles III., his grandson, was assassinated. (See Jane.)