Charles III (20 January 1716 - 14 December 1788) was King of Spain and the Spanish Indies (1759-1788), after ruling Naples as Charles VII and Sicily as Charles V (1734-1759), kingdoms he abdicated to his son Ferdinand. Charles was the fifth son of Philip V of Spain, and the eldest son of Philip's second wife, Elisabeth Farnese. A proponent of enlightened absolutism, he succeeded to the Spanish throne on 10 August 1759, upon the death of his half-brother King Ferdinand VI of Spain, who left no heirs.