Infante Carlos, Count of Molina

Not to be confused with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who is sometimes erroneously called Charles V of Spain

The Infante Carlos of Spain (29 March 1788 – 10 March 1855) was the second surviving son of King Charles IV of Spain and of his wife, Maria Luisa of Parma. As Carlos V he was the first of the Carlist claimants to the throne of Spain. He is often referred to simply as 'Don Carlos', but should not be confused with Carlos, son of King Philip II of Spain, after whom Verdi's opera is named.

Early life

Carlos was born on 29 March 1788, at the Palacio Real de Aranjuez in Aranjuez, Community of Madrid. In 1808, Napoleon captured Madrid in the Battle of Somosierra, and induced Carlos's father Charles IV and Carlos' older brother Ferdinand VII to renounce their rights to the throne of Spain. But Carlos who was heir presumptive to his brother refused to renounce his rights to the throne, which he considered to have been given to him by God. From 1808 until 1814 he and his brothers were prisoners of Napoleon at Valençay in France.

In 1814 Carlos and the rest of the Spanish royal family returned to Madrid. In September 1816 he married his niece Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal (1800–1834), daughter of King John VI of Portugal and Carlos' sister Carlota Joaquina. Francisca was also sister of the second wife of Carlos' brother Ferdinand VII. The couple had three sons:

• Infante Carlos, Count of Montemolin (1818–1861), known as Count of Montemolin
• Juan, Count of...... ...
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