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Summary
- Early Life
- Maria II during the Civil War
- Reign and Death of Maria II
Key Facts And Information
Let’s know more about Maria II of Portugal!
Dona Maria II, commonly referred to as ‘the Educator’ or ‘the Good Mother’, reigned as Queen of Portugal from 1826 to 1828 and then again from 1834 to 1853. She was the eldest offspring of the Duke and Duchess of Braganza, who subsequently ascended to the positions of Emperor Dom Pedro I and Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina of Brazil. In 1826, her father ascended to the throne of Portugal but promptly abdicated in favour of Maria, who was only seven years old. She gained widespread recognition as the individual who epitomised Portugal’s shift from absolutism to constitutional monarchy.
Portrait of Maria II of Portugal
EARLY LIFE
- On 4 April 1819, Maria II was born Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga, in the Palace of São Cristóvão in Rio de Janeiro, Kingdom of Brazil. Maria was the eldest daughter of Pedro I and his first wife, Dona Maria Leopoldina, herself a daughter of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. Maria, born in Brazil, is the sole European queen born outside of Europe, even though she was born within Portuguese territory.
- King Dom João VI, Maria’s grandfather, died in March 1826, which caused a succession crisis in Portugal. Dom João had a male heir, Dom Pedro, but the latter proclaimed the independence of Brazil in 1822 with himself as Emperor. Dom João also had a younger son, Infante Dom Miguel. Unfortunately, he was exiled to Austria after leading a revolution against his father.
- Dona Isabel Maria, the king’s daughter, was nominated by her father as a regent who would serve until the legitimate heir returned to the kingdom. Unfortunately, the king failed to specify which of his two sons was the legitimate heir.
- Although Pedro was widely regarded as the rightful successor, Brazil opposed his efforts to reunite the thrones of Portugal and Brazil. Cognizant of his brother’s followers’ intention to reinstate Miguel as the ruler, Pedro opted for a more agreeable solution: he would relinquish his right to the Portuguese throne in favour of his eldest daughter Maria (who was merely seven years old) and arrange for her to wed her uncle Miguel. In this arrangement, Miguel would embrace the liberal constitution and serve as a regent until his niece attained adulthood.
- Miguel feigned acceptance, but upon reaching Portugal, he promptly ousted Maria and declared himself king, revoking the liberal constitution. Throughout his reign, Maria embarked on numerous journeys to various European courts, such as her maternal grandfather’s court in Vienna and the cities of London and Paris.
- Maria’s initial reign was disrupted by an absolutist rebellion orchestrated by her uncle, fiancé and regent Miguel, who declared himself the ruler of Portugal on 23 June 1828. The Liberal Wars commenced and endured until 1834, when Maria was reinstated as the ruler, and Miguel was sent to Germany. Felisberto Caldeira Brant, the Marquis of Barbacena, arrived in Gibraltar with the princess on 3 September 1828. At that time, he was told by a messenger of the events taking place in Portugal. Assuming accountability, he altered the course of the trip and set off for London, ultimately reaching his destination on 7 October. The English policy was not conducive to achieving its intended objective.
- Due to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington’s explicit support for Miguel, the Marquis did not find the shelter he sought. Maria II was accorded the appropriate honours, befitting her elevated status upon her arrival at court. However, the British authorities prohibited their subjects and Portuguese emigrants from reinforcing the garrison on the island of Terceira. Miguel’s coup d’état faced opposition. On 16 May 1828, the military forces stationed in Porto staged a rebellion, while a battalion of infantry in Lagos followed suit. The uprisings were suppressed.
- João Carlos de Saldanha Oliveira e Daun, 1st Duke of Saldanha, and other leaders, who had arrived in Porto to assume control of the movement, boarded the Belfast ship that had transported them. Leading a small liberal expedition, Saldanha failed to land in Terceira, Azores. He was prevented from boarding the English cruise ship, which he evaded until the Count of Vila Flor, subsequently known as Terceira, managed to disembark. Eventually, in August 1829, a massive fleet of Miguelist ships arrived near the island and deployed troops. The Miguelists were defeated in the Battle on 11 August 1829 near Praia.
MARIA II DURING THE CIVIL WAR
- On 7 April 1831, Dom Pedro I relinquished the imperial throne of Brazil in favour of his son Dom Pedro II, Maria’s younger brother. He then travelled to Europe with his daughter and second wife to advocate for his daughter’s claim to the Portuguese crown. Dom Pedro I joined the loyal forces supporting Maria in the Azores, where they were in a conflict against Miguel. He assumed the title of Duke of Braganza and acted as regent on her behalf.
Maria II and her father Dom Pedro
- Simultaneously, the regency of Ilha Terceira, led by Pedro and consisting of the Pedro de Sousa Holstein, Marquis of Palmela, the Count of Vila Flor and José António Guerreiro, organised an expedition that swiftly seized control of the Azores. Upon expanding the constitutional domain, Pedro arrived in France warmly received by the new government and Louis Philippe. Miguel’s government had violated French citizens’ legal protections and failed to address the French government’s grievances promptly. As a result, the French government dispatched a fleet led by Admiral Roussin to blockade the port of Lisbon and impose degrading terms for peace.
- In Paris, Pedro entrusted his daughter to Amélie of Leuchtenberg, where she would receive a quality education under the guidance of skilled teachers. Meanwhile, Pedro embarked on an expedition to the Azores, which he had organised on the island of Belle Isle, gathering his loyal followers. l.
- On 3 March 1832, upon reaching the Azores, he established a fresh government, organised a small military force, and entrusted its leadership to the Count of Vila Flor. He then embarked on a squadron, handed over to the English officer Sartorius, and left for mainland Portuga
- Subsequently, the Siege of Porto and a sequence of conflicts were pursued until the Duke of Terceira triumphantly arrived in Lisbon on 24 July 1833 after emerging victorious in the Battle of Cova do Piedade the previous day. The liberals held control over the critical cities of Porto and Lisbon. Pedro arrived in Lisbon and called for his daughter to return from Paris, compelling her brother Miguel to renounce his position in 1834. Subsequently, Maria was reinstated as the ruler and successfully won the cancellation of her engagement. Shortly after her reinstatement as monarch, her father succumbed to disease.
- The 2nd Lancers Regiment was established on 7 February 1833 to safeguard the queen. Initially named the Queen’s Lancers Regiment, it adopted the motto ‘Morte ou Glória’ (Death or Glory), which happened to be the same as the 17th Lancers, as its first commander, Lt. Col. Sir Anthony Bacon, coincidentally shared the queen’s name, Maria da Glória. While holding the Portuguese crown, Maria II was also considered the next in line for the Brazilian throne as the Princess Imperial of Brazil until she was legally removed from the Brazilian line of succession by statute no—91 on 30 October 1835.
DEATH OF MARIA II
- Maria wedded Auguste Charles Eugène Napoléon de Beauharnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg, who was the offspring of Eugène de Beauharnais and the grandchild of the Empress Josephine of France, on 26 January 1835, when she was but 15 years old. Nevertheless, he passed away two months later, on 28 March 1835. Maria wedded Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a scholarly and capable individual, on 9 April 1836. Following Portuguese legislation, he was declared King Dom Fernando II following the birth of their first child and successor, Pedro.
- In 1842, Pope Gregory XVI bestowed upon Maria a Golden Rose. Maria’s rule witnessed a groundbreaking uprising on 16 May 1846, which was subsequently suppressed by loyalist forces on 22 February 1847. Portugal, however, managed to steer clear of the European Revolution of 1848. Maria’s rule was also remarkable for implementing public health legislation to mitigate cholera transmission across the nation. Additionally, she implemented measures to enhance education standards nationwide.
- Since her initial pregnancy at the age of 18, Maria II had challenges in the process of childbirth, characterised by prolonged and exceedingly arduous labour. An instance of this occurred during her third pregnancy, where labour persisted for 32 hours. Subsequently, a girl was baptised in articulo mortis, bearing the name Maria, in the year 1840. At the age of 25, Maria II was obese, and her subsequent pregnancies became increasingly problematic. In 1847, the occurrence of foetal discomfort prior to the birth of her eighth child, the Infante Augusto, Duke of Coimbra, resulted in the delivery of a newborn who had limited breathing.
- Doctors cautioned Maria II about the significant dangers she would encounter in future pregnancies due to the perilous pattern of consecutive pregnancies, together with her weight and the frequency of difficult births. On 15 November 1853, Maria II, at the age of 34, passed away 13 hours after the beginning of labour for her stillborn 11th child, Infante Eugénio. Queen Maria II is renowned for her exemplary motherhood and benevolent nature, consistently adhering to her convictions to assist her nation. Subsequently, she was bestowed with the moniker ‘the Good Mother’.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Maria II of Portugal?
Maria II, also known as Maria da Glória, was the Queen of Portugal who reigned twice, from 1826 to 1828 and from 1834 to 1853. She was the eldest daughter of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil (Pedro IV of Portugal) and became queen at a young age due to the political complexities of the time.
- How did Maria II become Queen of Portugal?
Maria II became Queen of Portugal after her father, Pedro IV, abdicated the Portuguese throne in her favour in 1826. Pedro IV had become Emperor of Brazil and wanted to resolve the political conflict between Brazil and Portugal.
- What were the significant challenges faced by Maria II during her reign?
Maria II faced numerous challenges, including political instability, civil war, and the struggle between liberals and absolutists. Her initial reign was interrupted by her uncle, Miguel I, who usurped the throne and ruled as an absolutist monarch. Maria regained the throne in 1834 after the Liberal Wars and continued to deal with political strife and efforts to modernise the country.