Maria II of Portugal
Crowned queen as a child, she fought for her throne and became a stabilizing force who championed constitutional monarchy and education in a turbulent Portugal.
1819–1853 (age 34)·Queen of Portugal from 1826 to 1828 and 1834 to 1853·Birthday: April 4
Biography
Maria II's life was a political drama from its very beginning. She was thrust onto the world stage as a seven-year-old heir, her claim to the Portuguese throne triggering a succession crisis and a civil war between liberal constitutionalists and absolutist factions led by her uncle. After years of exile, she returned to rule at age 15, embodying the liberal cause her father had championed. Her reign, though marred by constant political instability and several attempted coups, was marked by a genuine dedication to progressive ideals. She earned the nickname 'the Educator' for her focus on public instruction, supporting reforms and school construction. Personally, she was known for her domesticity and strong character, navigating the pressures of monarchy while bearing eleven children. Her death in childbirth at 34 cut short a reign that had provided a crucial period of relative calm and constitutional consolidation, steering Portugal away from absolutism and defining the modern Portuguese monarchy.
#1 When Maria Was Born
The biggest hits of 1819
Maria's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1819Born
1824Started school
1832Became a teenager
1835Could drive
1837Could vote
1840Turned 21
1849Turned 30
1853Died at 34
Key Achievements
- She secured the Portuguese throne for the liberal constitutional faction after the bloody Liberal Wars.
- Her reign saw the passage of important educational reforms, earning her the nickname 'the Educator'.
- She stabilized the Portuguese monarchy under a constitutional system after a period of intense civil conflict.
- She was the last undisputed Queen regnant of Portugal.
Did You Know?
She was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1819, making her the only European monarch born in the Americas.
She was married twice, first to Auguste de Beauharnais, who died shortly after the wedding, and then to Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
She died in Lisbon in 1853 at the age of 34 after giving birth to her eleventh child.
Her supporters considered her the legitimate queen even during the period her uncle usurped the throne.
“My crown is the constitution, and my duty is to uphold it.”
