Jump to content

Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Wikification
Vami IV (talk | contribs)
95,928 edits
No edit summary
Line 38: Line 38:


===Queen of Spain===
===Queen of Spain===
On 27 May 1829, [[Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony]], the third wife of King [[Ferdinand VII of Spain]], died. Ferdinand VII, old and ill, had gone his reign without producing a male heir, sparking a succession duel between the Infanta [[Maria Francisca of Braganza|Maria Francisca of Braganza]] and the [[Infante Carlos, Count of Molina|Infante Carlos]], and the Infanta [[Princess Luisa Carlotta of Naples and Sicily|Luisa Carlotta]] and the Infante [[Infante Francisco de Paula, Duke of Cádiz|Francisco de Paula]]. Ferdinand VII declared his intention to marry and assembled the [[Council of Castile]], who tasked the King with remarriage. Following Luisa Carlotta's suggestion, Ferdinand VII sent for Maria Christina, his niece, who had already given birth to a child and pleased the King's eyes.{{sfn|Aronson|1966|pp=6–7}}
With the death on 27 May 1829 of his third wife King [[Ferdinand VII of Spain]], was in need for a male heir to succeed to the crown. This led to his fourth marriage, just seven months later (11 December 1829), to his niece, Maria Christina, the daughter of his sister, Maria Isabella.<ref name=ngv>[https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/italianmasterpieces/about/patronage/patron-data/maria-christina-of-the-two-sicilies.html "Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies", National Gallery of Victoria]</ref>


As queen, Maria Christina rapidly delivered two daughters, the future [[Isabella II of Spain|Queen Isabella (Isabel) II]] (1830–1904),<ref name=ngv/> and the [[Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier|Infanta Luisa Fernanda]] (1832–1897), and two sons who did not survive past one year.
As queen, Maria Christina rapidly delivered two daughters, the future [[Isabella II of Spain|Queen Isabella (Isabel) II]] (1830–1904),<ref name=ngv>[https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/italianmasterpieces/about/patronage/patron-data/maria-christina-of-the-two-sicilies.html "Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies", National Gallery of Victoria]</ref> and the [[Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier|Infanta Luisa Fernanda]] (1832–1897), and two sons who did not survive past one year.


===Regency===
===Regency===
Line 52: Line 52:
===Downfall===
===Downfall===
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2012}}
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2012}}

On 28 December 1833, shortly after the death of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina had secretly married an ex-sergeant from the royal guard, [[Agustín Fernando Muñoz, 1st Duke of Riánsares|Agustín Fernando Muñoz]] (1808–1873). Maria Christina and Muñoz had several children together while trying to keep their marriage a secret.<ref>[https://books.google.com.pe/books?id=RZwUYgURK-0C&pg=PT54&lpg=PT54&dq=Antonio+de+Padua+Mu%C3%B1oz+y+de+Borb%C3%B3n&source=bl&ots=h-WnrYo0jC&sig=-TrmSmgJ_RdLOwqBdrQmGr9-86A&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnmvvSxcbKAhVFThQKHUHgDAEQ6AEITzAN#v=onepage&q=Antonio%20de%20Padua%20Mu%C3%B1oz%20y%20de%20Borb%C3%B3n&f=false José María Zavala: ''Bastardos y Borbones: Los hijos desconocidos de la dinastía''] Retrieved 25 January 2016.</ref>
On 28 December 1833, shortly after the death of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina had secretly married an ex-sergeant from the royal guard, [[Agustín Fernando Muñoz, 1st Duke of Riánsares|Agustín Fernando Muñoz]] (1808–1873). Maria Christina and Muñoz had several children together while trying to keep their marriage a secret.<ref>[https://books.google.com.pe/books?id=RZwUYgURK-0C&pg=PT54&lpg=PT54&dq=Antonio+de+Padua+Mu%C3%B1oz+y+de+Borb%C3%B3n&source=bl&ots=h-WnrYo0jC&sig=-TrmSmgJ_RdLOwqBdrQmGr9-86A&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnmvvSxcbKAhVFThQKHUHgDAEQ6AEITzAN#v=onepage&q=Antonio%20de%20Padua%20Mu%C3%B1oz%20y%20de%20Borb%C3%B3n&f=false José María Zavala: ''Bastardos y Borbones: Los hijos desconocidos de la dinastía''] Retrieved 25 January 2016.</ref>


Line 104: Line 105:
}}
}}


==References==
==Citation==
{{unreliable sources|date=September 2012}}
{{unreliable sources|date=September 2012}}
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==References==
* {{cite book|last=Aronson|first=Theo|authorlink=Theo Aronson|title=Royal Vendetta: The Crown of Spain, 1829–1965|year=1966|publisher=[[Bobbs-Merrill]]|ISBN=978-1910198117|ref=harv}}
* Encyclopædia Britannica
* Encyclopædia Britannica
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317162248/http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/Bourbon_Two_Sicilies_Royal_Family.htm#37.54 |date=March 17, 2006 |title=Two Sicilies family tree }}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060317162248/http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/Bourbon_Two_Sicilies_Royal_Family.htm#37.54 |date=March 17, 2006 |title=Two Sicilies family tree }}

Revision as of 08:33, 24 June 2019

For other people called Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, see Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (disambiguation).
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Portrait by Vicente López y Portaña, 1830
Queen consort of Spain
Tenure11 December 1829 – 29 September 1833
Born27 April 1806
Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily
Died22 August 1878(1878-08-22) (aged 72)
Le Havre, French Third Republic
Burial
El Escorial, Madrid, Spain
SpouseFerdinand VII of Spain
Issue
among others...
Names
Maria Cristina Ferdinanda di Borbone
House
FatherFrancis I of the Two Sicilies
MotherMaría Isabella of Spain
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Princess Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (Italian: Maria Cristina Ferdinanda di Borbone, Principessa delle Due Sicilie, Spanish: María Cristina de Borbón, Princesa de las Dos Sicilias; 27 April 1806 – 22 August 1878) was queen consort of Spain from 1829 to 1833 and regent of the kingdom from 1833 to 1840.

Life

Born in Palermo, Sicily on 27 April 1806, she was the daughter of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies by his second wife, Maria Isabella of Spain.

Queen of Spain

On 27 May 1829, Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony, the third wife of King Ferdinand VII of Spain, died. Ferdinand VII, old and ill, had gone his reign without producing a male heir, sparking a succession duel between the Infanta Maria Francisca of Braganza and the Infante Carlos, and the Infanta Luisa Carlotta and the Infante Francisco de Paula. Ferdinand VII declared his intention to marry and assembled the Council of Castile, who tasked the King with remarriage. Following Luisa Carlotta's suggestion, Ferdinand VII sent for Maria Christina, his niece, who had already given birth to a child and pleased the King's eyes.[1]

As queen, Maria Christina rapidly delivered two daughters, the future Queen Isabella (Isabel) II (1830–1904),[2] and the Infanta Luisa Fernanda (1832–1897), and two sons who did not survive past one year.

Regency

Maria Christina - Regent of Spain, by Valentín Carderera, mid 1830s

When Ferdinand died on 29 September 1833, Maria Christina became regent for their daughter Isabella. Isabella's claim to the throne was disputed by her uncle, the Infante Carlos, Count of Molina, who claimed that his brother 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.

Carlos' attempt to seize power resulted in the Carlist Wars. Despite considerable support for Carlos from 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.

Downfall

On 28 December 1833, shortly after the death of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina had secretly married an ex-sergeant from the royal guard, Agustín Fernando Muñoz (1808–1873). Maria Christina and Muñoz had several children together while trying to keep their marriage a secret.[3]

  1. Maria de los Desamparados, Countess of Vista Alegre (17 November 1834 - 19 August 1864) married Prince Władysław Czartoryski (1828–1894).
  2. Maria de los Milagros, Marchioness of Castillejo (8 November 1835 – 9 July 1903) married to Filippo del Drago, Principe di Mazzano e d'Antuni (1824–1913).
  3. Agustín Maria, 1st Duke of Tarancón (15 March 1837 - 15 July 1855) candidate to King of Ecuador in 1846.[4][5]
  4. Fernando Maria, 2nd Duke of Riansares and Tarancon (27 April 1838 – 7 December 1910) married to Eladia Bernaldo de Quirós y González de Cienfuegos (1839–1909).
  5. Maria Cristina, Marchioness of La Isabella (19 April 1840 – 19 December 1921).
  6. Juan Bautista, Count of Recuerdo (29 August 1841 – 2 April 1863)
  7. Antonio de Padua (3 November 1842 – 1847).
  8. Jose Maria, Count of Gracia (21 December 1843 – 17 December 1863)

Muñoz enlisted in the royal bodyguard, and attracted the attention of Maria Christina. According to one account, he distinguished himself by stopping the runaway horses of her carriage; according to another, he only picked up her handkerchief; a third explanation of his fortune has been given[citation needed]. Maria Christina's husband, King Ferdinand VII of Spain died on 29 September 1833, and on 28 December 1833 she and Muñoz were privately married.

If Maria Christina had officially made the marriage public, she would have forfeited the regency; but her relations with Muñoz were perfectly well known within the Spanish court. When on 13 August 1836 the soldiers on duty at the summer palace La Granja mutinied and forced the regent to grant a constitution, it was generally, though wrongly, believed that they overcame her reluctance by seizing Muñoz, whom they called her guapo, or fancy man, and threatening to shoot him.

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 Maria Christina found her position intolerable; she renounced the regency and left Spain with Muñoz. The army commander, General Baldomero Espartero, Count of Luchana, replaced her as regent.

Exile

Queen Maria Christina of Spain in old age

In 1842 Maria Christina purchased the Château de Malmaison as their residence. In 1843, on the overthrow of General Baldomero Espartero they returned to Spain. In 1844, Muñoz's stepdaughter Queen Isabella II was declared to be of age. On 23 June 1844 Isabella gave to Muñoz the title duque de Riánsares, to which was attached a Grandeza de España;[6] the title came from the river Riánsares, near Muñoz's birthplace in Tarancón. On 12 October 1844 Isabella gave official consent to the marriage between her mother and Muñoz, and it was publicly performed. In 1846 Isabella made Muñoz a Knight of the Golden Fleece. On 30 May 1846 she gave Muñoz a second title, marqués de San Agustín.[6] Muñoz was made a Captain General, the highest rank in the Spanish Army. In 1847 Louis Philippe, King of the French, gave Muñoz the title duc de Montmorot; he also invested Muñoz with the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur. In 1854, Maria Christina left for France a second time. France remained her primary residence for the remainder of her life.

In 1846, by the express request of the former president Juan José Flores, the Queen participated in an attempt to restore the monarchy in Ecuador. This two-phase plan was first that her son Agustín Muñoz of Bourbon should become King of Ecuador, and later in restorer of the Spanish monarchy in Perú and Bolivia, converting the child in the monarch of the tentative United Kingdom of Ecuador, Perú and Bolivia, with herself and Flores as Regents. When everything was organized, the attempt was denounced by the press and Latin American diplomats, and plans collapsed.[7][8]

Death and burial

Maria Christina's illness returned and she suffered from serious coughing, fainting and fever. She died in Le Havre, France on 22 August 1878. As the mother of Isabella II, Maria Christina was buried in the royal crypt of El Escorial monastery.

Coat of arms of Maria Christina as Queen Consort

Ancestry

Citation

  1. ^ Aronson 1966, pp. 6–7.
  2. ^ "Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies", National Gallery of Victoria
  3. ^ José María Zavala: Bastardos y Borbones: Los hijos desconocidos de la dinastía Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. ^ Ralph W. Haskins, "Juan José Flores and the Proposed Expedition against Ecuador, 1846-1847"
  5. ^ The Hispanic American Historical Review 27, no. 3 (August 1947): 467-95. Camilo Destruge, La expedición Flores: Proyecto de monarquia americana, 1846-47 (Guayaquil: Impr. de el Tiempo, 1906).
  6. ^ a b Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobilarios Españoles. Madrid: Ediciones Hidalguia, 1996; ISBN 84-87204-84-8.
  7. ^ Orrego Penagos, Juan Luis. "The general Juan José Flores and Perú". Rumbo al Bicentenario. December 2003. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  8. ^ Garibaldi de Mendoza, Rosa (June 28, 2009). "When Ecuador almost became a Kingdom". El Comercio of Perú Newspaper. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Francis I. of the Two Sicilies" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  10. ^ a b Navarrete Martínez, Esperanza Navarrete Martínez. "María de la O Isabel de Borbón". Diccionario biográfico España (in Spanish). Real Academia de la Historia.
  11. ^ a b c d Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans [Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living] (in French). Bourdeaux: Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel. 1768. p. 9.
  12. ^ a b Genealogie ascendate, p. 1
  13. ^ a b Genealogie ascendate, p. 96

References

Media related to Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies at Wikimedia Commons

Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies
Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon
Born: 27 April 1806 Died: 22 August 1878
Spanish royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony 		Queen consort of Spain
11 December 1829 – 29 September 1833 		Vacant
Title next held by
Francis, Duke of Cádiz
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Maria_Christina_of_the_Two_Sicilies&oldid=903211836"