Isabella II of Spain

Queen of Spain

10 October 1830 Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain

9 April 1904(1904-04-09) (73) Palacio Castilla, Paris, France

NamesMaría Isabel Luisa de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias

"Isabella II" redirects here. For other monarchs, see Queen Isabella. For the 1830s steam frigate, see SS Royal William. For the 1886 steel cruiser, see Spanish cruiser Isabel II. Queen of Spain Isabella IIFormal photo portrait by Jean Laurent, 1860Queen of Spain (more...) Reign29 September 1833 – 30 September 1868 Enthronement 10 November 1843PredecessorFerdinand VIISuccessorAmadeo IRegents Queen María Cristina (1833–1840) Baldomero Espartero (1840–1843) Born10 October 1830 Royal Palace, Madrid, SpainDied9 April 1904(1904-04-09) (aged 73) Palacio Castilla, Paris, FranceBurialEl EscorialSpouseInfante Francisco de Asís ​ ​(m. 1846; died 1902)​Issue Detail Isabel, Princess of Asturias Alfonso XII Infanta Pilar Infanta Paz Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera HouseBourbonFatherFerdinand VII of SpainMotherMaria Christina of the Two SiciliesReligionRoman CatholicismSignature Isabella II (Spanish: Isabel II; 10 October 1830 – 9 April 1904), also known as the Queen of Sad Mischance and the Traditional Queen, was Queen of Spain from 29 September 1833 until 30 September 1868. Shortly before her birth, the King issued a Pragmatic Sanction to ensure the succession of his firstborn. She came to the throne a month before her third birthday, but her succession was disputed by her uncle the Infante Carlos (founder of the Carlist movement), whose refusal to recognize a female sovereign led to the Carlist Wars. Under the regency of her mother, Spain transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy adopting the Royal Statute of 1834 and Constitution of 1837. Her effective reign was a period marked by palace intrigues, back-stairs and antechamber influences, barracks conspiracies, and military pronunciamientos. She came to be known by the sobriquets of the Traditional Queen (Spanish: la Reina Castiza), and the Queen of Sad Mischance (Spanish: la de los Tristes Destinos). She was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1868, and formally abdicated in 1870. Her son, Alfonso XII, became king in 1874.