Maria II of Portugal

Maria II da Gloria, Queen of Portugal, was the daughter of the future King Pedro IV (Emperor of Brazil as Pedro I). She was only six years old when, on May 2, 1826, her father made her Queen of Portugal under the auspices of a constitutional government and betrothed her to her uncle, Dom Miguel.

Only two years later, Miguel declared himself regent of Portugal and then deposed Maria altogether, renounced the constitution and made himself King. Pedro abdicated the Brazilian throne in 1831 and, from his base in the Azores he attacked Miguel, forcing him to abdicate in 1834. Maria was thereupon restored to the throne. She later married the cultured and able Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld[?], who ruled with her aas 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. Maria II died on Nov 15 1853 while only in her thirties.

Preceded by: D. Pedro IV

List of Portuguese monarchs

Succeeded by: Dom Pedro V