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In March 1826, King João VI died and a crisis was installed in Portugal. The king had a male heir, but he had proclaimed the independence of Brazil in 1822 and he was now Emperor Pedro I of that country. He also had a second son, Miguel, but he was exiled in Austria after leading a number of revolutions against his father and his liberal regime.
The king had nominated his favorite daughter, Isabel Maria, as regent until "the legitimate heir returned to the Kingdom". But he didn't specify who was the legitimate heir. Pedro, the liberal Emperor of Brazil, or Miguel, the absolutist exiled prince?
Most people considered that Pedro was the legitimate heir, but nobody wanted him to unite Portugal and Brazil's thrones again. Aware that his brother's supporters were ready to bring Miguel back and put him in the throne, he decided for a more consensual option: he abdicated the throne to his eldest daughter, Maria da Gloria (who was only 7 years old), and she should marry her uncle Miguel, who should accept the Liberal Constitution and act as a regent until his niece was an adult.
Miguel pretended to accept, but when he arrived to Portugal he deposed Maria and proclaimed himself Absolutist King. During his reign of terror, Maria traveled for many European courts, including her grandfather's, Vienna, London, and ParisEiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. Paris is the capital and largest city of France. The city is built on an arc of the River Seine, and is thus divided into two parts: the Right Bank to the north and the smaller Left Bank to.
Pedro abdicated the Brazilian throne in 1831Events February- March Revolts in Modena, Parma and the Papal States are put down by Austrian troops February 20 Battle of Grochow. Polish rebel forces divide a Russian army. March 1 Democrat Samuel Smith becomes President Pro Tempore of the United States and, from his base in the AzoresThe Azores (or Acores in Portuguese) are an archipelago of Portuguese islands situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisbon and about 3,900 km from the east coast of North America. The nine Azorean Islands extend for more than 6 he attacked Miguel, forcing him to abdicate in 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l. Maria was thereupon restored to the throne, and an annulment of her marriage obtained.
On 26 January 1835Events January 1 Ole Pedersen Hoiland breaks into the Bank of Norway and steals 64. 000 dalers January 7 HMS Beagle anchors off the Chonos Archipelago. January 30 Unsuccessful assassination attempt against President Andrew Jackson in the United States Cap she married, at the age of 15, Charles Auguste Eugène Napoléon de Beauharnais , 2nd Duke of Leuchtenberg, son of Eugène de BeauharnaisEugene Rose de Beauharnais ( September 3, 1781 February 21, 1824) was the first child and only son of Josephine de Tascher de la Pagerie and Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais. He was born in Paris, France and became the stepson and adopted child of Napole, and grandson of Empress Josephine. He died after two months on 28 March 1835.
On 1 January 1836 she married the cultured and able Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha who ruled with her as King Consort.
Maria's reign saw a revolutionary insurrection on May 16, 1846, but this was crushed by royalist troops on February 22, 1847, and Portugal otherwise avoided the European upheavals of 1848. Maria's reign was also notable for a public health act aimed at curbing the spread of cholera throughout the country.
From her second marriage, she had the following children:
After constant pregnancies and births, the doctors kept telling Maria the danger of giving birth to almost one child per year. She seemed, though, not to mind about the risk (the same thing that killed her mother) - "If I die, I die in my post", as she used to say. Unfortunately, that actually happened. She did not survive little Prince Eugene's birth, in 1853.
Maria II is remembered as a good mother and a kind person, who always acted according to her convictions to help her country.
See also: War of the Two Brothers
| Preceded by: Pedro IV | Queen of Portugal First Reign | Succeeded by: Miguel |
| Miguel | Queen of Portugal Second Reign | Pedro V |