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CHARLES X

(09/16/1824-08/2/1830)

Charles X, grandson of Louis XV and younger brother of Louis XVI, is known as Comte d'Artois. He succeeded Louis XVIII on September 16, 1824. His reign begins with liberal measures without follow-up. Charles X is the last king crowned in Reims, May 29, 1825. He leaves the government to Villèle which takes reactionary measures such as the law of compensation for emigrants of one billion gold francs or the dismissal of the National Guard. Despite the dissolution of the Chamber in 1821, the liberal opposition was strengthened and, in January 1828, Villèle was replaced by Martignac who tried to appease. Quickly fired in August 1829, Martignac was replaced by a representative of the ultras, Polignac. The king dissolves the Chamber on May 16, 1830 but the new chamber elected in July again has a liberal majority. Charles X then promulgates four ordinances which aim to limit the powers and freedoms of the House and tend to suspend the charter of 1814. This causes the revolution of July 27/29, better known as the "Trois Glorieuses". On August 2, 1830, Charles X abdicated in favor of his grandson Henri V, after appointing Louis-Philippe lieutenant general of the kingdom.