at the end of 1758, charles' half brother ferdinand vi was displaying the same symptoms of depression that his their father used to suffer from. ferdinand lost his devoted wife, barbara of portugal in august 1758 and would fall into deep morning for her. he named charles his heir on 10 december 1758 before leaving madrid to stay at villaviciosa de odón where he died on 10 august 1759. charles was thus proclaimed the king of spain under the name of charles iii and adicated as king of naples as he could not join the three kingdoms of spain, naples and sicily.