General Notes

Isabella II (1830-1904), queen of Spain, (1833-68), the daughter of King
Ferdinand VII by his fourth wife, born in Madrid. She was made heir apparent
by a decree that set aside the Salic Law forbidding the succession of a woman,
and ascended the throne on the death of her father in 1833, her mother Maria
Christina being appointed queen regent. An insurrection in favor of her uncle,
Don Carlos, raged with great violence until the Carlists were defeated in
1839. In 1846 the queen married her cousin, Don Francisco de Asís. From the
time she was declared of age in 1843, Isabella's reign was troubled by
intrigues, civil strife, and great political instability. Deposed in the
Revolution of 1868, she escaped to France. In 1870 Isabella abdicated in favor
of her son, Alfonso, who eventually succeeded to the throne in 1875 as Alfonso
XII.