Charles III became King of Spain in 1759 after the death of his stepbrother Ferdinand VI. During his reign, he was helped by several Enlightenment politicians including Floridablanca, Campomanes, and Aranda. Campomanes served as Minister of the Treasury and applied economic reforms like giving church lands to farmers to boost agriculture. Floridablanca served as ambassador to Rome and supported the American colonies against England, recovering Menorca and Florida for Spain.

1. IES FRAY PEDRO DE URBINA. Sara Fernández / Paula Santamaría. 4º ESO, 2013-14

2. CHARLES III
ENLIGHTENMENT
FLORIDABLANACA
CAMPOMANES

3.  Son of Philip V and
Isabel of Farnesio.
 In his chilhood he
became interested in
hunting and fishing.
 In Naples he got
married with María
Amalia and they had 13
children.

4.  He returned to Spain because his stepbrother
Ferdinand VI died without heir.
 On 9th December of 1759, he became king of
Spain.
 He was an absolute monarch.

5.  During his reign he was helped by politicians:
Wall, Grimaldi, Esquilache, Campomanes, Floridabl
anca o Aranda.
 He wasn't very learned but he was interested in
culture and he wanted to help the peasants.
 His son, Charles IV, will be king of Spain and he was
worried because his son wasn´t prepared.
 When his wife died he suffered a depression.
 After the death of his son Gabriel he died five years
later.

6.  It was a intellectual
movement in the 18th
century that wanted to
use reason, science and
education to reform
society.
 They criticized the
traditional structures so
they wanted to reform
the Ancien Régime.

7.  He was a Spanish
politician in the
enlightenment.
 He was public prosecutor
(fiscal) in the Council of
Castile where he met
Campomanes.

8.  He was ambassador in Rome, so he had to solved the
problems between Charles III and the Papacy. The
king gave him the title of count of Floridablanca.
 WITH CHARLES III:
- He supported the American colonies in the War of
Independence against England.
- He recovered Menorca and Florida, but he didn´t
recover Gibraltar.
- After the death of Charles III and with the French
Revolution, he imposed new laws to protect the
country against the revolution.

9.  He was a Spanish
politician in the
enlightenment.
 After a lot of works
Charles III appointed
him minister of Treasury.

10.  He applied some measures to reform the Spanish
economy.
 He wanted to give the free lands of the Church to the
farmers.
 He released the taxes on trade and agriculture, so they
grew.
 With Olavide and Aranda (ministers) he organized the
repopulation of Sierra Morena.
 He was appointed president of the Royal Council of
Castile.
 In the Spanish Cortes he suggested a law that
prohibited women to reign.