Maria Christina, 1806–78, queen of Spain

Maria Christina (märē`ä krēstē`nä), 1806–78, queen of Spain, daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies. The fourth wife of Ferdinand VII Ferdinand VII, 1784–1833, king of Spain (1808–33), son of Charles IV and María Luisa . Excluded from a role in the government, he became the center of intrigues against the chief minister Godoy and attempted to win the support of Napoleon I.
..... Click the link for more information. , she persuaded him to confirm (1833) the original revocation (1789) of the Salic law Salic law (sā`lĭk), rule of succession in certain royal and noble families of Europe, forbidding females and those descended in the
..... Click the link for more information. to allow their daughter Isabella to succeed him. At the king's death (1833) Maria Christina became regent for Isabella II Isabella II, 1830–1904, queen of Spain (1833–68), daughter of Ferdinand VII and of Maria Christina . Her uncle, Don Carlos , contested her succession under the Salic law , and thus the Carlist Wars began (see Carlists ).
..... Click the link for more information. . In the Carlist Wars (see Carlists Carlists, partisans of Don Carlos (1788–1855) and his successors, who claimed the Spanish throne under the Salic law of succession, introduced (1713) by Philip V.
..... Click the link for more information. ) that this succession provoked, she was aided by the liberals, but the frequent changes in the constitution alienated their support. The opposition of Espartero Espartero, Baldomero, duque de la Victoria, conde de Luchana
..... Click the link for more information. forced her to resign the regency, and she went to France (1840). She returned after Espartero's overthrow (1843) and regained influence. She had to yield to Espartero again in 1854 but remained a powerful figure to the end of Isabella's turbulent reign in 1868.

Maria Christina, 1858–1929, queen of Spain

Maria Christina (märē`ä krēstē`nä), 1858–1929, queen of Spain, consort of Alfonso XII. An Austrian archduchess, she was married to Alfonso in 1879. After his death, she was regent (1886–1902) for his posthumous son, Alfonso XIII, but took very little part in political affairs.