fwo_630032 - ESPAGNE - ROYAUME D'ESPAGNE - ISABELLE II 20 Reales 1861 Madrid

SPAIN - KINGDOM OF SPAIN - ISABELLA II

(1833-1868)

Marie-Louise, known as Isabelle II (1830-1904) was the daughter of Ferdinand VII (1784-1830) and Marie-Christine de Bourbon-Parme (1806-1878). She succeeded her father in 1833 by virtue of the pragmatic sanction which had removed her uncle Don Carlos from the throne. His mother was regent and then espartero between 1841 and 1843. At the beginning of his reign, the Carlist wars began. Declared an adult at the age of 14 in 1843, she married her cousin François d'Assise, Duke of Cadiz (1822-1902) in 1846. Her personal reign began in 1854 as the influence of many favorites grew and an alternation between O'Donnell and Narváez ruled until 1868. After growing discontent, Isabel was driven from the throne in 1868 and the First Republic was proclaimed . The queen then took refuge in France. Refusing at first to abdicate, her succession led to the outbreak of the Franco-German war of 1870. She finally abdicated in favor of her son Alphonse XII (1857-1885) who became king in 1874. She died in 1904 in Paris.