Charles V

Charles V official portrait

Queen Catherine of Burgundy

Queen Julia Lear

**Charles V** (Charles Martell; 28 February 2834 - 6 October 2899) was King of Rockfield for forty-years during most of the second-half of the 29th century. Charles is the second longest serving monarch in Balancín Monarchy history, behind Philip II, and is most famous for his multiple marriages which earned him disfavour with the Pontifical Church.

Charles was born during the reign of the Usurper Elisa II and as the heir to the claimant King Antony Edmund II, his father. As such, he is the only monarch in Balancín history to be born outside of Rockfield, having lived in exile in northern Europe. Charles' father, Antony Edmund II, spend much of his early life gathering forces to retake the throne of Rockfield, leaving Charles free to do as he pleased. Charles was the eldest of six siblings and is considered to be the most audacious of them all. He would often host large parties in the palace, get caught drinking and was accused on several occasions of having sex before marriage. As Prince Charles, he was considered a "party-prince" and this reputation did not change when his father retook the crown in 2840.

Charles' nineteen-year tenure as Duke of Talaga is considered to be some of the most scandalous of the title's history and this mostly mirrored his early life. This did not prevent him from succeeding to the throne, mostly out of fear of another civil war and succession crisis. During his time as Duke of Talaga, Charles married Matilda Marinnette and had a daughter, Isabel. Upon his father's death, Charles became King Charles V of Rockfield. The same day, Charles announced his divorce to his wife, Matilda, on account of adultery.

Immediately upon his ascension, Charles married the daughter of the King of Thailand. This marriage was controversial in the clergy due to the bride's lack of an outspoken Christian faith. Many accused her of falsifying her religious identity to qualify for marriage with the King. However, the court pushed forward with the marriage as to strengthen their alliance with the shrinking Kingdom. Only nine-weeks into their marriage, Charles announced he would seek an annulment on the basis that they had not consummated the marriage. The Pontifical Church, unhappy with the suspected anti-Christian Queen, accepted and Charles re-married. Charles married the Pontifical Catherine of Burgundy and had a son, Alfonso. Alfonso and Isabel had a contensious relationship over succession, with Alfonso winning out and becoming the heir. With Catherine's death only four years after Alfonso's birth, Charles married a fourth time to Julia Lear, the daughter of the Archbishop of Rockfield. Queen Julia outlived Charles, but they had no children together. Upon Charles' death, his son become Alfonso II.

Charles' reign is mostly remembered for his scandalous marriages and the succession debate between Alfonso and Isabel.

## Titles, styles, honours and arms

### **Titles and styles**

* 28 February 2834 - 7 September 2840: *His Royal Highness* Prince Charles Martell
* 7 September 2840 - 19 January 2855: *His Royal Highness* The Prince Charles
* 19 January 2855 - 1 January 2859: *His Royal Highness* The Prince Charles, Duke of Talaga
* 1 January 2859 - 6 October 2899: *His Majesty* The King

As King of Rockfield, Charles' full title and style was:

> Charles of the House Martell, fifth of his name, by Grace of God, of the Rock and of the Balancín people, King, Lord of the Iberian Palace and Defender of the Faith
>
>

## Issue

* Prince Jaehaerys, Earl of Newton
* Princess Alexandra
 Alfonso II | 19 June 2866