# Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor

_18th century Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/charles-vi-holy-roman-emperor
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Charles VI (German: Karl; Latin: Carolus; 1 October 1685 – 20 October 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy from 1711 until his death, succeeding his elder brother, Joseph I. He unsuccessfully claimed the throne of Spain following the death of his relative Charles II of Spain. In 1708, he married Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, by whom he had his four children: Leopold Johann (who died in infancy), Maria Theresa, Maria Anna (Governess of the Austrian Netherlands), and Maria Amalia (who also died in infancy).

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1 October 1685 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Vienna ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P19))
- **Died:** 20 October 1740 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P570))
- **Place of death:** Vienna ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Hungary; Spain ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P27))
- **Occupation:** monarch; art collector ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P106))
- **Spouse:** Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P26))
- **Positions held:** King of Sardinia and Corsica (1713–1720); Apostolic King of Hungary (17 April 1711 – 20 October 1740); Holy Roman Emperor (1711–1740); King of Bohemia (1711–1740); monarch of the Crown of Aragon (29 June 1706 – 7 September 1714); Prince-Elector; Archduke of Austria ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P39))
- **Awards:** Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665#P166))

## About

Four years before the birth of Maria Theresa, faced with his lack of male heirs, Charles provided for a male-line succession failure with the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. The Emperor favoured his own daughters over those of his elder brother and predecessor, Joseph I, in the succession, ignoring the Mutual Pact of Succession he had signed during the reign of his father, Leopold I. Charles sought the other European powers' approval. They demanded significant terms, among which were that Austria close the Ostend Company. In total, the states of Great Britain, France, Saxony-Poland, the Dutch Republic, Spain, Venice, the Papal States, Prussia, Russia, Denmark, Savoy-Sardinia, and Bavaria, plus the Diet of the Holy Roman Empire, recognised the sanction. France, Spain, Saxony-Poland, Bavaria, and Prussia later reneged. Charles died in 1740, sparking the War of the Austrian Succession, which plagued his successor, Maria Theresa, for eight years. His death without male heirs also resulted in the complete extinction of the male line in the Habsburg dynasty.

## Questions

**When was Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor born?**  
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor was born on 1 October 1685 in Vienna.

**What positions has Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor held?**  
Positions held by Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor include: King of Sardinia and Corsica (1713–1720); Apostolic King of Hungary (1711–1740); Holy Roman Emperor (1711–1740); King of Bohemia (1711–1740); monarch of the Crown of Aragon (1706–1714).

## Related

- [Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/leopold-ii-holy-roman-emperor)
- [Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/francis-ii-holy-roman-emperor)
- [Ferdinand I of Austria](https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-i-of-austria)
- [Charles I of Austria](https://diginpl.com/people/charles-i-of-austria)
- [Franz Joseph I](https://diginpl.com/people/franz-joseph-i)
- [Władysław III of Poland](https://diginpl.com/people/wadysaw-iii-of-poland)
- [Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/charles-v-holy-roman-emperor)
- [Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/henry-vi-holy-roman-emperor)
- [Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/henry-vii-holy-roman-emperor)
- [Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor](https://diginpl.com/people/charles-iv-holy-roman-emperor)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_VI%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q150665](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q150665) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Martin van Meytens (attrib.) - Porträt Kaiser Karl VI.jpg by Attributed to Martin van Meytens (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_van_Meytens_(attrib.)_-_Portr%C3%A4t_Kaiser_Karl_VI.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Martin van Meytens (attrib.) - Porträt Kaiser Karl VI.jpg — Attributed to Martin van Meytens, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/charles-vi-holy-roman-emperor. Retrieved 12 November 2026.