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This article is about a fictional King of France who plays a background role in Southern Victory. For the cruise liner named after him, see Charles XI (Ship).
Charles XI
Fictional Character
Southern Victory
POD: September 10, 1862
Appearance(s): The Center Cannot Hold
through
In at the Death
Type of Appearance: Contemporary references
Nationality: France
Religion: Catholicism
Date of Death: 1944
Cause of Death: Killed by a superbomb (Second Great War)
Occupation: Monarch
Children: Louis XIX(?)
Political Office(s): King of France

Charles XI (d. 1944) was installed as King of France by the Action Francaise party in 1931, after the Party seized control of the country. He reigned over the rearmament of his country and its disastrous participation in the Second Great War.

In the 1930s, Charles supported Spanish Nationalists against the German-backed Monarchists in the Spanish Civil War, illustrating that France was once again able to challenge German political hegemony. Charles also received Confederate envoy Anne Colleton in 1934. Colleton had been specifically appointed by President Jake Featherston to negotiate a continued alliance between the two countries and also keep the opportunistic Colleton away. Charles readily agreed, and sent Colonel Jean-Henri Jusserand to the C.S. in 1936 as military attaché.

In 1941, Charles, along with his Entente allies Tsar Mikhail II of Russia and Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain, launched a series of coordinated assaults against Germany, beginning the Second Great War. Concurrently, France's North American ally, the CSA, attacked its traditional enemy, the United States.

The ensuing war lasted three years. Although France had arguably been the most vocal critic of Germany before the war (and the country Germany appeared most determined to hold down), the country quickly became a junior partner to Great Britain. Despite initial gains, the Entente's fortunes in Europe were obviously turning by 1943.

In 1944, Charles was killed by the German superbomb that destroyed Paris. He was succeeded by Louis XIX, who, after an initial show of defiance, ultimately sued for peace.

Literary Comment

The identity of Charles XI is never revealed in the text.

Royal offices
(Southern Victory)
Preceded by
None,
Last monarchical ruler was
Emperor Napoleon III
King of France
1931-1944
Succeeded by
Louis XIX
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