Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

Queen of Spain from 1829 to 1833

For other people called Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, see Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (disambiguation).

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Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

Portrait by Vicente López y Portaña, 1830

Queen consort of Spain
Tenure| 11 December 1829 – 29 September 1833
Queen regent of Spain
Regency| 29 September 1833 - 12 October 1840
Successor| Baldomero Espartero
Monarch| Isabella II

Born| 27 April 1806
Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily
Died| 22 August 1878(1878-08-22) (aged 72)
Le Havre, French Third Republic
Burial|

El Escorial

Spouses|

Ferdinand VII of Spain

(m. 1829; died 1833)​

Agustín Fernando Muñoz, 1st Duke of Riánsares

(m. 1833; died 1873)​

Issue
among others...|

* Isabella II of Spain
* Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier
* María Amparo Muñoz, 1st Countess of Vista Alegre
* Agustín Muñoz, 1st Duke of Tarancón
* Fernando Muñoz, 2nd Duke of Tarancón
* Maria Cristina, Marchioness of La Isabella

| Names

Maria Cristina Ferdinanda di Borbone
House| Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Father| Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Mother| María Isabella of Spain

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 the Queen of Spain from 1829 to 1833 and Queen regent of the kingdom from 1833, when her daughter became queen at age two, to 1840. By virtue of her short marriage to King Ferdinand VII of Spain, she became a central character in Spanish history for nearly 50 years, thanks to introducing a bicameral model of government based on the Bourbon Restoration in France: the Spanish Royal Statute of 1834.

## Early life

[edit]

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

## Queen of Spain

[edit]

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 not sired a male heir, sparking a succession duel between the Infanta Maria Francisca 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 pleased the King's eyes. The two were wed on 12 December 1829 at the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Atocha.[1]

With her betrothal and then marriage to Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina became embroiled in the conflict between the Spanish Liberals and the Carlists. The former faction, and the Spanish people, greatly revered Maria Christina, and made her their champion; when she first arrived in Madrid in 1829, the blue of the cloak she wore became their official color. The latter were absolutists and highly conservative, and derived their name from the Carlos's, who they favored for the throne. Using King Philip V's enactment of Salic law, which banned women from taking the throne, Maria Francisca and Carlos pushed for the latter's claim. Ferdinand VII and Maria Christina produced two daughters, Isabella on 10 October 1830[2] and Luisa Fernanda a little over a year later on 30 January 1832. However, in a secret session of the Cortes in 1789, King Charles IV reversed this law with the Pragmatic Sanction. Seeking to secure the succession of an heir of his siring, no matter their gender, Ferdinand VII announced the Pragmatic Sanction in March 1830.[3]

In July 1832, Maria Christina, Ferdinand VII, their daughters, Maria Francisca and Carlos, and Maria Teresa, Princess of Beira, set out for the Royal Palace of La Granja. On the trip to La Granja, Ferdinand VII was badly injured by a coach accident. He became ill and increasingly sick over the summer. At one point, Ferdinand VII was found unconscious at the palace chapel. Seeking counsel in the event of Ferdinand VII's death, Maria approached the Carlist Francisco Calomarde, who advised her that the Spanish people would rally behind Carlos. Acting on this, she coerced Ferdinand VII into signing a decree making her regent if he died, with Carlos as her chief adviser. Carlos refused, demanding total governance. Calomarde, with Maria Francisca and Maria Theresa, reissued his warning, coercing King and Queen into repealing the Pragmatic Sanction. When Ferdinand VII appeared to have died, the repealing was announced publicly, and Maria Christina deserted by her courtiers. Ferdinand VII was discovered to be alive, and news of this also spread. Luisa Carlotta, at that time in Andalusia, soon arrived at La Granja and speedily persuaded Ferdinand to re-enact the Pragmatic Sanction and orchestrated Calomarde's dismissal.[4]

## Regency

[edit]

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

See also: Minority of Isabella II of Spain § The regency of Maria Christina

When Ferdinand died on 29 September 1833, Maria Christina became regent for their daughter Isabella. Isabella's claim to the throne was disputed by Carlos, who claimed that his brother Ferdinand had unlawfully changed the succession law to permit females to inherit the crown again (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 First Carlist War. Despite considerable support for Carlos from conservative elements in Spain, Cristina's side (also known as "Isabelinos") successfully retained the throne for her daughter.

### Downfall

[edit]

On 28 December 1833, shortly after the death of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina 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.[5]

* Maria de los Desamparados, Countess of Vista Alegre (17 November 1834 - 19 August 1864); married Prince Władysław Czartoryski (1828–1894).
* Maria de los Milagros, Marchioness of Castillejo (8 November 1835 – 9 July 1903); married Prince Filippo Massimiliano Del Drago of Mazzano and Antuni [it] (1824–1913). Their fourth son Giovanni Battista was known as the Prince del Drago in New York society.
* Agustín Maria, 1st Duke of Tarancón (15 March 1837 - 15 July 1855)
* Fernando Maria, 2nd Duke of Riansares and Tarancon (27 April 1838 – 7 December 1910); married Eladia Bernaldo de Quirós y González de Cienfuegos (1839–1909).
* Maria Cristina, Marchioness of La Isabella (19 April 1840 – 19 December 1921).
* Juan Bautista, Count of Recuerdo (29 August 1841 – 2 April 1863)
* Antonio Muñoz y de Borbón (3 November 1842 – 1847)
* 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, scandalous explanation of his fortune has been given.[6] 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 La Granja summer palace 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, replaced her as regent.

## Titles and styles

[edit]

* 27 April 1806 – 11 December 1829: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies
* 11 December 1829 – 29 September 1833: Her Majesty The Queen
* 29 September 1833 – 12 October 1840: Her Majesty The Queen Governor (or Regent)[7]
* 12 October 1840 – 30 September 1868: Her Majesty The Queen Mother Doña María Cristina de Borbón[8]
* 30 September 1868 – 22 August 1878: Her Majesty The Queen Doña María Cristina de Borbón

## Exile

[edit]

Queen Maria Christina of Spain in old age

In 1842 Maria Christina purchased the Château de Malmaison as her residence. In 1843, on the overthrow of General Baldomero Espartero she returned to Spain with her husband. 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;[9] 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.[9] 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.

## Death and burial

[edit]

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 and consort of Ferdinand VII, Maria Christina was buried in the royal crypt of El Escorial.

### Ancestry

[edit]

Ancestors of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8\. Charles III of Spain[12] (= 12)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| 4\. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies[10]|

|  |  |
| 9\. Maria Amalia of Saxony[12] (= 13)

| 2\. Francis I of the Two Sicilies|

|  |  |  |  |
| 10\. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor[13]

| 5\. Maria Carolina of Austria[10]|

|  |  |
| 11\. Maria Theresa of Austria[13]

| 1\. Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies|
|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 12\. Charles III of Spain[12] (= 8)

| 6\. Charles IV of Spain[11]|

|  |  |
| 13\. Maria Amalia of Saxony[12] (= 9)

| 3\. Maria Isabella of Spain|

|  |  |  |  |
| 14\. Philip, Duke of Parma[14]

| 7\. Maria Luisa of Parma[11]|

|  |  |
| 15\. Louise Élisabeth of France[14]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

## See also

[edit]

* Monument to Maria Christina of Bourbon (Madrid)

## Citation

[edit]

Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

1. ^ Aronson 1966, pp. 6–7, 8.
2. ^ Aronson 1966, pp. 8, 9.
3. ^ Aronson 1966, pp. 8–10.
4. ^ Aronson 1966, pp. 10–12.
5. ^ José María Zavala: Bastardos y Borbones: Los hijos desconocidos de la dinastía Retrieved 25 January 2016.
6. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Riansares, Augustin Fernandez Muñoz, Duke of". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 281.
7. ^ "Letter of H. M. The Queen Governor" (PDF). www.boe.es. 5 October 1833. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
8. ^ First Secretariat of State (8 November 1840). "Order resolving that the stamp of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Doña María Cristina de Borbón, be rendered useless and a new one be opened, inscribing on it: The Duke of Victory, President" (PDF). www.boe.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 July 2025.
9. ^ a b Elenco de Grandezas y Títulos Nobilarios Españoles. Madrid: Ediciones Hidalguia, 1996; ISBN 84-87204-84-8.
10. ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Francis I. of the Two Sicilies" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
11. ^ a b Navarrete Martínez, Esperanza Navarrete Martínez. "María de la O Isabel de Borbón". Diccionario biográfico España (in Spanish). Real Academia de la Historia.
12. ^ 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.
13. ^ a b Genealogie ascendate, p. 1
14. ^ a b Genealogie ascendate, p. 96

## References

[edit]

* Aronson, Theo (1966). Royal Vendetta: The Crown of Spain, 1829–1965. Bobbs-Merrill. ISBN 978-1910198117.
* Encyclopædia Britannica
* Two Sicilies family tree at the Wayback Machine (archived March 17, 2006)

## External links

[edit]

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

Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies

House of Bourbon-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

Francisco de Asís,
Duke of Cádiz
as king consort

* v
* t
* e

Spanish royal consorts

* Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (2014–present)

* Sophía of Greece and Denmark (1975–2014)
* Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (1906–1931)
* Maria Christina of Austria (1879–1885)
* Mercedes of Orléans (1878)
* Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo (1870–1873)
* Francis, Duke of Cádiz (1846–1868)
* Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1829–1833)
* Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony (1819–1829)
* Maria Isabel of Portugal (1816–1818)
* Julie Clary (1808–1813)
* Maria Luisa of Parma (1788–1808)
* Maria Amalia of Saxony (1759–1760)
* Barbara of Portugal (1746–1758)
* Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (1724)
* Elisabeth Farnese (1714–1724, 1724–1746)
* Maria Luisa of Savoy (1701–1714)
* Maria Anna of Neuburg (1690–1700)
* Marie Louise of Orléans (1679–1689)
* Mariana of Austria (1649–1665)
* Élisabeth of France (1621–1644)
* Margaret of Austria (1598–1611)
* Anna of Austria (1570–1580)
* Élisabeth of France (1559–1568)
* Mary I of England (1556–1558)
* Isabella of Portugal (1526–1539)

* v
* t
* e

Princesses of the Two Sicilies by birth

Generations are numbered by descent from Ferdinand I

1st generation|

* Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress
* Luisa, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
* Maria Cristina, Queen of Sardinia
* Maria Amalia, Queen of the French
* Maria Antonia, Princess of Asturias

2nd generation|

* Caroline, Duchess of Berry
* Luisa Carlotta, Infanta Francisco de Paula of Spain
* Maria Christina, Queen of Spain
* Maria Antonia, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
* Maria Amalia, Infanta Sebastian of Portugal and Spain
* Maria Carolina, Countess of Montemolín
* Theresa Christina, Empress of Brazil
* Maria Carolina, Duchess of Aumale

3rd generation|

* Maria Annunciata, Archduchess Charles Louis of Austria
* Maria Immaculata, Archduchess Karl Salvator of Austria-Tuscany
* Maria Pia, Duchess of Parma
* Maria Luisa, Countess of Bardi
* Maria Antonietta, Countess of Caserta
* Maria Carolina, Countess Andrzej Zamoyski

4th generation|

* Maria Teresa, Princess of Hohenzollern
* Maria Immaculata, Princess Johann Georg of Saxony
* Maria Cristina, Archduchess Peter Ferdinand of Austria-Tuscany
* Maria di Grazia, Princess Imperial of Brazil

5th generation|

* Princess Urraca
* Isabel Alfonsa, Countess Jan Kanty Zamoyski
* Dolores, Princess Augustyn Józef Czartoryski
* Mercedes, Countess of Barcelona

6th generation|

* Princess Inés María, Duchess of Syracuse
* Princess Béatrice

8th generation|

* Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo
* Princess Maria Chiara, Duchess of Noto and Capri

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