[1] He was the son of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine of the House of Wittelsbach, and Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel.

Charles's younger sister Elizabeth Charlotte ("Liselotte") was married in 1671 to the brother of King Louis XIV of France, Philippe I, Duke of Orléans.

The prince's education was led by the scholars Samuel von Pufendorf and Ezekiel Spanheim.

He appointed his incompetent former tutor Paul Hachenberg as chief minister, leaving his half-siblings, the "Raugraves", out of favour.

The court preacher Johann Ludwig Langhanns became senior minister after Hachenberg's death.