Maria Christina, Queen Regent of Spain

Maria Christina of Bourbon, Princess of the Two Sicilies, Queen of Spain (Maria Cristina Ferdinanda of the Two Sicilies branch of the Royal House of Bourbon) (April 27, 1806–August 22, 1878) was Queen Consort of Spain (1829 to 1833) and Queen Regent of Spain (1833 to 1840). Maria Christina was the fourth wife of King Ferdinand VII of Spain (Fernando in Spanish) (1784-1833, king 1813-1833) and mother of and regent for Queen Isabella II of Spain (Isabel in Spanish) (1830-1904, queen 1833-1868). Originally titled Her Royal Highness, Princess Maria Christina of Naples and Sicily, on December 18, 1816 her title was changed to Princess of the Two Sicilies when her father changed the name of his kingdom. Her Spanish name was María Cristina de las Dos Sicilias. Portrait of Spanish queen-consort Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Prado, Madrid This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Portrait of Spanish queen-consort Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Prado, Madrid This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The Two Sicilies The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was the new name that the Bourbon King Ferdinand IV of Naples bestowed upon his domain (including Southern Italy and the island of Sicily) after the end of the Napoleonic Era and the full restoration of his power in 1816. ... Also see:  Early Modern France The House of Bourbon is an important European royal house. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ... Isabella II (October 10, 1830 – April 10, 1904), Isabel II in Spanish, was queen of Spain. ... December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1816 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy on April 27, 1806, she was the daughter of King Francis I (In Italian, Francesco I) of the Two Sicilies by his second wife, Infanta Doña Maria Isabel of Spain. She also descended from the Austrian Habsburgs as her grandmother was Queen Marie Caroline and her great-aunt was Marie Antoinette. Nickname: Palermu Motto: Official website: http://www. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian, Σικελία in Greek) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,700 sq. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... 1806 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Francis I (Francesco Gennaro Giuseppe, August 14, 1777 – November 8, 1830) was King of the Two Sicilies from 1825 to 1830. ... HM Queen Marie Caroline of Naples and Sicily Her Majesty Queen Marie Caroline of Naples and Sicily née Her Imperial & Royal Highness Archduchess Marie Caroline of Austria (13 August 1752- 8 September 1814) was queen consort and de facto ruler of Naples from 1768 to 1799 and from 1799... Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France and Archduchess of Austria (born November 1755 – executed 16 October 1793) Daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria, wife of Louis XVI and mother of Louis XVII. She was guillotined at the height of the French Revolution. ...

Maria Christina married King Ferdinand VII of Spain on December 11, 1829 in Madrid. Ferdinand was her uncle by birth and by marriage. Like her mother Maria Isabel, Ferdinand was a child of King Charles IV of Spain (Carlos IV in Spanish) and his wife, Princess Maria Luisa of Bourbon-Parma. Further, Ferdinand's first wife Princess Maria Antonietta of Naples and Sicily (1784-1806) was the sister of Maria Christina's father, King Francis. After Maria Antonietta's death, Ferdinand married Infanta Doña Isabel of Portugal (1787-1819). When Isabel died he married Princess Josepha of Saxony (1803-1829). Of these three marriages, only that to Isabel resulted in a live child. Queen Isabel's daughter, the Infanta Doña María Luísa Isabel, died on January 9, 1818 at the age of four months. With Queen Josepha's death on May 27, 1829, Ferdinand's desperation to father an heir for his crown resulted in his fourth marriage just seven months later. Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Charles IV (November 11, 1748 - January 20, 1819) was King of Spain from December 14, 1788 until his abdication on March 19, 1808. ... Maria Antionietta of Naples (1784-1806) was the daughter of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The new queen, Maria Christina, rapidly gave birth to two daughters, Isabella (the future Queen Isabella, 1830–1904) and the Infanta Doña María Luísa Fernanda (1832-1897). When Ferdinand died on September 29, 1833, Maria Christina became regent for their daughter Isabella. Isabella's claim to the throne was disputed by her uncle, the Infante Don Carlos María Isidro Benito, Count de Molina, who claimed that Ferdinand had unlawfully changed the succession law to permit females to inherit the crown (see Carlism). Some supporters of don Carlos went so far as to claim that Ferdinand had actually bequeathed the crown to his brother but that Maria Christina had suppressed that fact. It was further alleged that the Queen had signed her dead husband's name to a decree recognizing Isabella as heir. Isabella II (October 10, 1830 – April 10, 1904), Isabel II in Spanish, was queen of Spain. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Carlism is a traditionalist, legitimist political movement in Spain seeking, among other things, the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. ...

Carlos' attempt to seize power resulted in the Carlist Wars. Despite considerable support for Carlos from the Roman Catholic Church and conservative elements in Spain, Maria Christina successfully retained the throne for her daughter. The Carlist Wars grew from a dispute about the succession into a dispute over the future of Spain. The supporters of Maria Christina and her daughter favored a liberal constitution and progressive social policies. In contrast, Carlos' supporters (called Carlists) favored a return to traditional society and an absolute monarchy. Ultimately, the army's loyalty to Isabella II proved the decisive issue in the war. The Carlist Wars in Spain were the last major European civil wars in which pretenders fought to establish their claim to a throne. ... Carlism was a conservative political movement in Spain, purporting to establish an alternative branch of the Bourbons in the Spanish throne. ...

On December 28, 1833, shortly after the death of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina secretly married an ex-sergeant from the royal guard, Augustín Fernández Muñoz, Duke of Riansares (1808-1873). Muñoz was given the title Duke of Riansares). Maria Christina and Muñoz had several children together while trying to keep their marriage a secret. December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

• Maria Amparo, Countess of Vista Alegre (17 Nov 1834 - 19 Aug 1864)
• Maria de los Milagros, Marchioness of Castillejo (8 November 1835 - 9 July 1903)
• Agustin, Duke of Tarancon (1837 - 15 July 1855)
• Fernando, Duke of Riansares and Tarancon (27 April 1838 - 7 December 1910)
• Maria Christina, Marchioness of Isabella (19 April 1840 - 20 December 1921)
• Juan, Count of Recuerdo (29 August 1844 - 2 April 1863)
• Jose, Count of Garcia (21 December 1846 - 17 December 1863)

Eventually, news of Maria Christina's marriage to this low-ranking soldier became public. That news made Maria Christina deeply unpopular. Her position was undermined by news of her remarriage and concerns that she was not actually supportive of her liberal ministers and their policies. Eventually, the army, which was the backbone of Isabella II's support, and the liberal leadership in the Cortes combined to demand that Maria Christina stand aside from the regency. In 1840, the army commander, General Baldomero Espartero, Count of Luchana, replaced her as regent. The Cortes Generales (English: General Courts) is the Spanish legislature. ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The new government required the ex-regent to leave Spain. After an unsuccessful attempt to return to power, Maria Christina retired permanently to exile in France after 1844. France remained her primary residence for the remainder of her life. 1844 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

A revolution forced daughter Isabella II from her throne on September 30, 1868 and she joined her mother in exile in France. Isabella II renounced the throne in favor of her son, Alfonso XII, on June 25, 1870. Supporters of Alfonso XII made it clear that neither his mother nor grandmother could play an active role in the effort to restore the monarchy. When Alfonso XII regained the Spanish crown on December 29, 1874, Maria Christina and Isabella II were permitted to return to Spain as visitors but denied permission to live there permanently. Neither was allowed to exercise influence in the Spanish government. September 30 is the 273rd day of the year (274th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Alfonso XII of Spain (November 28, 1857–November 25, 1885), was king of Spain, reigning from 1875 to 1885, after a coup détat restored the monarchy and ended the ephemeral First Spanish Republic. ... June 25 is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 189 days remaining. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

The marriage to Muñoz and the events of Maria Christina's turbulent regency drove a permanent wedge between her and her Spanish royal offspring. Neither Isabella II nor Alphonso XII had much interest in a relationship with the former Queen Regent. Maria Christina died in Le Havre, France on August 22, 1878. As the widow of Ferdinand VII and the mother of Isabella II, Maria Christina was buried in the royal crypt of the El Escorial monastery (El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo del Escorial, the Royal Monastery of Saint Lawrence of Escorial). Burial in the royal crypt is a privilege reserved to Spanish sovereigns and those of their spouses who were actually the parents of future sovereigns. Ferdinand VII's first three wives had to be buried in less exalted parts of the Escorial or other churches. Location within France Abbey of Graville, Le Havre An old house in Le Havre Church of St. ... August 22 is the 234th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (235th in leap years), with 131 days remaining. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ... Isabella II (October 10, 1830 – April 10, 1904), Isabel II in Spanish, was queen of Spain. ... The huge monastery in distant view San Lorenzo de El Escorial redirects here. ... The huge monastery in distant view San Lorenzo de El Escorial redirects here. ...

// House of Bourbon (second and third restoration) House of Savoy House of Bourbon (first restoration) House of Bonaparte House of Bourbon House of Habsbourg Category: ... Francis of Assisi of Bourbon ( In Spanish: Francisco de Asís de Borbón), consort of Queen Isabella II of Spain, born Aranjuez, Spain, 13 May 1822; died Épinay-sur-Seine, France, 17 April 1902), titularly King of Spain. ... Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833. ... This is a list of Spanish monarchs—that is, rulers of the country of Spain in the modern sense of the word. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1840 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

References

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Two Sicilies family tree
• Genealogical information at thepeerage.com