Charles III (January 20th, 1716 - December 14th, 1788) was a king of Spain and an enlightened absolutist. Thought he was sometimes tyrannical as a ruler, he was responsible for culturally and economically reviving his country by making reforms on various fields.
He established royal councils and held regular meetings in order to produce a concerted policy. By the end of his reign, Spain had abandoned its old commercial restrictions and, while still excluding foreigners, had opened up the entire empire to a commerce in which all its subjects and all its main ports could partake. Native cotton industry grew rapidly and the country intervened in production of luxury goods. Charles III also promoted science and university research.