Charles Emmanuel was born in Turin, the eldest son of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia (at the time styled "Duke of Savoy") and of his wife Infanta Antonia of Spain. From his birth until his own succession to the throne of Sardinia in 1796 Charles Emmanuel was styled "Prince of Piedmont". At the death of his father (October 14, 1796), Charles Emmanuel succeeded as King of Sardinia. The kingdom included not only the island of Sardinia, but also significant territories in north-west Italy including all of Piedmont.