Editing Charles X of France (section)

==Marriage and private life==
[[File:Comte d'Artois, later Charles X of France, by Henri Pierre Danloux.jpg|thumb|Charles as Count of Artois in 1798. Portrait by [[Henri-Pierre Danloux]]]]
In November 1773, Charles married [[Princess Marie Thérèse of Savoy|Marie Thérèse of Savoy]].

In 1775, Marie Thérèse gave birth to a boy, [[Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême|Louis Antoine]], who was created [[Duke of Angoulême]] by Louis XVI. Louis-Antoine was the first of the next generation of Bourbons, as the king and the Count of Provence had not fathered any children yet, causing the Parisian ''libellistes'' ([[pamphleteer]]s who published scandalous leaflets about important figures in court and politics) to lampoon Louis XVI's alleged impotence.<ref>Fraser, pp. 137–139.</ref> Three years later, in 1778, Charles' second son, [[Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry|Charles Ferdinand]], was born and given the title of [[Duke of Berry]].<ref>Fraser, p. 189.</ref> In the same year Queen [[Marie Antoinette]] gave birth to her first child, [[Marie Thérèse of France|Marie Thérèse]], quelling all rumours that she could not bear children.

Charles was thought of as the most attractive member of his family, bearing a strong resemblance to his grandfather Louis XV.<ref name="Fraser80">Fraser, pp. 80–81.</ref> His wife was considered quite ugly by most contemporaries, and he looked for company in numerous extramarital affairs. According to the Count of Hézecques, "few beauties were cruel to him." Among his lovers was notably [[Anne Victoire Dervieux]]. Later, he embarked upon a lifelong love affair with the beautiful [[Louise de Polastron]], the sister-in-law of [[Marie Antoinette]]'s closest companion, the [[Yolande de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac|Duchess of Polignac]].

Charles also struck up a firm friendship with Marie Antoinette herself, whom he had first met upon her arrival in France in April 1770 when he was twelve.<ref name="Fraser80" /> The closeness of the relationship was such that he was falsely accused by Parisian rumour mongers of having seduced her. As part of Marie Antoinette's social set, Charles often appeared opposite her in the private theatre of her favourite royal retreat, the [[Petit Trianon]]. They were both said to be very talented amateur actors. Marie Antoinette played [[milkmaid]]s, [[shepherd]]esses, and country ladies, whereas Charles played lovers, [[valet]]s, and farmers.
[[File: Callet - Charles-Philippe de France, comte d'Artois (futur roi Charles X).jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of the Count of Artois (future Charles X) in the habit of the [[Order of the Holy Spirit]], by [[Antoine-François Callet]], {{Circa|1775}}]]
A famous story concerning the two involves the construction of the [[Château de Bagatelle]]. In 1775, Charles purchased a small [[Pavillon de chasse|hunting lodge]] in the [[Bois de Boulogne]]. He soon had the existing house torn down with plans to rebuild. Marie Antoinette wagered her brother-in-law that the new château could not be completed within three months. Charles engaged the [[Neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] architect [[François-Joseph Bélanger]] to design the building.<ref name="Fraser, p. 178">Fraser, p. 178.</ref>

He won his bet, with Bélanger completing the house in sixty-three days. It is estimated that the project, which came to include manicured gardens, cost over two million [[French livres|livres]]. Throughout the 1770s, Charles spent lavishly. He accumulated enormous debts, totalling 21 million [[Livre tournois|livres]]. In the 1780s, King Louis XVI paid off the debts of both his brothers, the Counts of Provence and Artois.<ref name="Fraser, p. 178" />

In March 1778, Charles caused a scandal when he assaulted the Duchess of Bourbon, [[Bathilde d'Orléans]], at a masked ball, while "escorting [Madame] Canillac, [[prostitute|a lady of the town]] [...] After exchanging a few words, the irritated Duchess reached up and snatched off his mask whereupon he pulled her nose so hard and painfully that she wept."<ref name="Seward">{{cite book |last=Seward |first=Desmond |author-link=Desmond Seward |date=2022 |title=The Bourbon Kings of France |location=London |publisher=Lume Books |page=282-283 |isbn=9798367430301}}</ref> Her husband, [[Louis Henri, Prince of Condé]], challenged him to a [[duel]], during which Charles was wounded in the hand. When the Bourbons later attended a play, they were received with "enthusiastic cheers",<ref name="Seward"/> although the two men were reconciled the next year. This affair became known as: [[An Incident at the Opera Ball on Mardi Gras in 1778]].

In 1781, Charles acted as a proxy for [[Holy Roman Emperor]] [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]] at the christening of his godson, the [[Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France|Dauphin Louis Joseph]].<ref>Fraser, p. 221.</ref>