Carolus

Carolus is the Latin form of the given name Charles. In historical and scholarly contexts, Carolus is used as a proper name in Latin texts and inscriptions, dating from late antiquity through the early modern period. The name derives from the Germanic Karl, meaning “free man,” and is cognate with Charles in English and with related forms in other languages.

In medieval and early modern Europe, rulers and nobles known in vernacular languages as Charles were often rendered in Latin as Carolus. Notable examples include Carolus Magnus, better known in English as Charlemagne, and Carolus Rex as a generic Latin label for kings named Charles. The form appears in chronicles, liturgical books, and academic writings.

In science and academia, Carolus has been used as a Latinized given name. The most famous bearer is Carolus Linnaeus, the Latinized form of Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who created the systema naturae. The use of Latinized names persisted in scholarly works for centuries, particularly in biology, astronomy, and theology, where Latin functioned as a lingua franca.

In taxonomy, the epithet carolus (lowercase) may appear as a Latinized species name honoring a person named Charles, though it is more commonly seen as one of many Latin epithets rather than a fixed designation.

Today, Carolus is chiefly encountered in historical texts, classical scholarship, and in discussions of Latin nomenclature, rather than as a modern given name.