King Charles II of Spain

Definition

King Charles II was the last Habsburg ruler from 1665 until his death in 1700. He had no direct heirs, leading to a succession crisis upon his death known as The War Of The Spanish Succession.

Analogy

Imagine if you're playing a video game and your character dies without any saved progress or backup lives. That's kind-of what happened when Charles II died - there was no clear successor or "backup" to take his place, leading to a big conflict (the War of the Spanish Succession).

Related terms

Habsburg Dynasty: A European royal house that provided many Holy Roman Emperors, Kings of Spain, and other rulers across Europe.

Inbreeding: The practice of mating closely related individuals. Charles II was a product of inbreeding which led to numerous health issues and his inability to produce an heir.

Spanish Netherlands: A part of the dominions of the Habsburg kings of Spain located in northwestern Europe during the 16th to 17th centuries, which were among territories disputed in the War Of The Spanish Succession.