CHARLES VI., German emperor, 1711-40, the last of the proper male line of the house of was the second son of the emperor Leopold I., and b. 1685. His father intended for him the crown of Spain; but Charles II. of Spain, yielding to French intrigues, assigned it by testament to Philip of Anjou, whereupon arose the great war of the Spanish succession—Britain and Holland taking part with the eniperor against France, for the maintenance of the balance of power in Europe. C. was acknowledged by the allies as Charles III. of Spain, but had not succeeded in obtaining permanent possession of the kingdom, when the death of his brother, the emperor Joseph I., recalled him to Germany in 1711; and as he now became emperor of Ger many, Britain and Holland concluded the peace of Utrecht with France in 1713. C. continued the war for some time longer; but was at last obliged to give up his claim to Spain, being confirmed, however, in possession of the Spanish Netherlands and of the Spanish possessions in Italy. Success attended his arms in a war against the Turks, and in a war with Spain, which arose out of the project, of the Spanish minister Albe roni, and in which the quadruple alliance was formed—France, Britain, and Holland join ing the emperor against Spain. But C., having lost his only son, and being very anxious
to secure the throne to his own descendants, named his daughter, Maria Theresa (q.v.), as his heiress, by a pragmatic sanction (q.v.), to which he had much difficulty in obtain ing the consent of some of the German states and some foreign powers; and to accom Visit this object lie gave up Tuscany, Parma. and Piacenza, and afterwardS Naples, bicily, Lorraine, and some parts of Milan. Meanwhile, he was unsuccessful in wars with France and Spain, and with the Turks, who compelled him, in 1739, to resign his former conquests. He died 20th Oct., 1740. Ile was of a mild and benevolent dispo sition, but full of superstition and of prejudices in favor of feudalism and ecclesiastical domination.