Queen of Spain 1843-1868. She was the eldest daughter of Fernando VII and his fourth wife, Maria Christina. Maria became queen-regent on September 29, 1833, when her daughter Isabel, at the age of three years, was proclaimed queen. Queen Isabel succeeded to the throne because Ferdinand VII induced the Cortes to assist him in setting aside the Salic law, which the Borbons had introduced in the beginning of the 18th century, and to re-establish the older succession law of Spain. The brother of Ferdinand, Don Carlos, fought seven years, during the minority of Isabel, to dispute her title. Isabel's rights were only maintained through the support of the army, the Cortes and the Liberals. After the Carlist war the queen-regent, Christina, resigned to make way for Espartero, the most successful and most popular general of the Isabelline armies, who only remained regent two years. He was turned out in 1843 when Isabel was declared of age at thirteen. Three years later the Moderado party made their queen marry, at sixteen, her cousin, Prince Maria Fernando Francisco de Asis de Borbon, on the same day her younger sister married the duke of Montpensier, both matches were anything but happy. The period of Isabel’s reign was one long succession of palace intrigues, back-stairs and antechamber influences, barrack conspiracies, military pronunciamientos to further the ends of the political parties. Queen Isabel II often interfered in politics in a wayward, unscrupulous manner that made her very unpopular. She showed most favour to her reactionary generals and statesmen, to the Church and religious orders, and was constantly the tool of corrupt courtiers and favourites who gave her court a bad name. She went into exile in 1868 after the Septembrina Revolution. Isabel was induced to abdicate in Paris on June 25th, 1870 in favour of her son, Alfonso XII. She continued to live in France after the restoration in 1874.

Queen of Spain 1843-1868. She was the eldest daughter of Fernando VII and his fourth wife, Maria Christina. Maria became queen-regent on September 29, 1833, when her daughter Isabel, at the age of three years, was proclaimed queen. Queen Isabel succeeded to the throne because Ferdinand VII induced the Cortes to assist him in setting aside the Salic law, which the Borbons had introduced in the beginning of the 18th century, and to re-establish the older succession law of Spain. The brother of Ferdinand, Don Carlos, fought seven years, during the minority of Isabel, to dispute her title. Isabel's rights were only maintained through the support of the army, the Cortes and the Liberals. After the Carlist war the queen-regent, Christina, resigned to make way for Espartero, the most successful and most popular general of the Isabelline armies, who only remained regent two years. He was turned out in 1843 when Isabel was declared of age at thirteen. Three years later the Moderado party made their queen marry, at sixteen, her cousin, Prince Maria Fernando Francisco de Asis de Borbon, on the same day her younger sister married the duke of Montpensier, both matches were anything but happy. The period of Isabel’s reign was one long succession of palace intrigues, back-stairs and antechamber influences, barrack conspiracies, military pronunciamientos to further the ends of the political parties. Queen Isabel II often interfered in politics in a wayward, unscrupulous manner that made her very unpopular. She showed most favour to her reactionary generals and statesmen, to the Church and religious orders, and was constantly the tool of corrupt courtiers and favourites who gave her court a bad name. She went into exile in 1868 after the Septembrina Revolution. Isabel was induced to abdicate in Paris on June 25th, 1870 in favour of her son, Alfonso XII. She continued to live in France after the restoration in 1874.

Bio by: Bunny Boiler