| Charles III | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Charles, c. 1852 | |||||
| Duke of Parma and Piacenza | |||||
| Reign | 17 May 1849 – 27 March 1854 | ||||
| Predecessor | Charles II | ||||
| Successor | Robert I | ||||
| Born | 14 January 1823 Villa delle Pianore, Lucca, Duchy of Parma | ||||
| Died | 27 March 1854 (aged 31) Parma, Duchy of Parma | ||||
| Burial | Cappella della Macchia, Villa Borbone, near Viareggio | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | |||||
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| House | Bourbon-Parma | ||||
| Father | Charles II, Duke of Parma | ||||
| Mother | Maria Teresa of Savoy | ||||
Charles III (Italian: Carlo III di Borbone, Duca di Parma e Piacenza; 14 January 1823 – 27 March 1854) was the duke of Parma from 1849 to 1854.
He was the only son of Duke Charles II of Parma and was educated in Saxony and Vienna. He grew up as a restless young man and traveled extensively while he was the hereditary prince of Lucca. For a time he served in the Piedmontese army with the rank of captain. In 1845, his father arranged his marriage with Princess Louise of Artois, a wealthy heiress who gave him four children. In December 1847, at the death of Empress Marie Louise, his father became the reigning duke of Parma, but abdicated on 24 March 1849. Charles III became the duke of Parma, Piacenza and the Annexed States.
Charles III owed his throne to the support of Austrian troops. He placed Parma under martial law, inflicted heavy penalties on the members of the late provisional government, closed the university, and instituted a regular policy of persecution. His authoritarian policies made him unpopular. After reigning only five years, he was assassinated in March 1854.