Maria II of Portugal

Dona Maria II (4 April 1819 – 15 November 1853) "the Educator" (Portuguese: "a Educadora") or "the Good Mother" (Portuguese: "a Boa Mãe"), was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves from 1826 to 1828, and again from 1834 to 1853. She was a member of the House of Braganza.

Born Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga in Rio de Janeiro, she was the eldest daughter of the future King of Portugal and first Emperor of Brazil, Pedro IV and I, and his first wife Maria Leopoldina, Archduchess of Austria, herself a daughter of Emperor Francis II. Born in Brazil, Maria was the only European monarch to have been born outside of Europe, though she was still born in Portuguese territory.

Maria II at age 10, 1829

The death of Maria's grandfather, King João VI, in March 1826 sparked a succession crisis in Portugal. The king had a male heir, Pedro, but Pedro had proclaimed the independence of Brazil in 1822 with himself as Emperor. The late king also had a younger son, Miguel, but he was exiled to Austria after leading a number of revolutions against his father and his liberal regime.

Maria II around age 14, c.1833

Before his death, the king had nominated his favourite daughter, Isabel Maria, to serve as regent until "the legitimate heir returned to the kingdom" — but he had failed to specify which of his sons was the legitimate heir: Pedro, the liberal Emperor of Brazil, or Miguel, the absolutist exiled prince.

Most people considered Pedro to be the legitimate heir, but Brazil did not want him to unite Portugal and Brazil's thrones again. Aware that his brother's supporters were ready to bring Miguel back and put him on the throne, Pedro decided for a more consensual option: he would renounce his claim to the Portuguese throne in favour of his daughter Maria (who was only seven years old), and that she was to marry her uncle Miguel, who would accept the liberal constitution and act as a regent until his niece reached majority.

Miguel pretended to accept, but upon his arrival in Portugal he immediately deposed Maria and proclaimed himself king, abrogating the liberal constitution in the process. During his reign of terror, Maria traveled to many European courts, including her maternal grandfather's in Vienna, as well as London and Paris.

Pedro abdicated the Brazilian throne in 1831 in favour of his son, Maria's younger brother Pedro II, and joined the forces loyal to Maria in the Azores in their war against Miguel, forcing him to abdicate in 1834. Maria was thereupon restored to the throne, and obtained an annulment of her betrothal.

On 7 February 1833, in order to protect the Queen, the 2nd Lancers Regiment was created, first known as the Regimento de Lanceiros da Rainha (Queen's Lancers Regiment), with the motto Morte ou Glória, "Death or Glory" (the same as the 17th Lancers, since Lt. Col. Sir Anthony Bacon was its first commander), a fortunate coincidence since the queen's name was Maria da Glória.

Maria II was heiress presumptive to her brother Pedro II as Princess Imperial, until her exclusion from the Brazilian line of succession by law no. 91 of 30 October 1835.

Queen Maria II, around age 33, one year before her death, c. 1852. Painting by Sir William Charles Ross.

Effigy of Maria II, 1849

Maria married Auguste, Duke of Leuchtenberg, son of Eugène de Beauharnais, and grandson of Empress Josephine on 26 January 1835, at the age of fifteen. However, he died only two months later, on 28 March 1835.

On 1 January 1836, she married the cultured and able Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In accordance with Portuguese law, Ferdinand received the title of king upon the birth of their first child and heir, Peter.

In 1842, Pope Gregory XVI presented Maria with a Golden Rose.

Maria's reign saw a revolutionary insurrection on 16 May 1846, but this was crushed by royalist troops on 22 February 1847, and Portugal otherwise avoided the European Revolution of 1848. Maria's reign was also notable for a public health act aimed at curbing the spread of cholera throughout the country. She also pursued policies aimed at raising the levels of education throughout the country.

After constant pregnancies and births, doctors warned Maria of the dangers of giving birth nearly every year. However, she ignored the risks that had killed her mother, who had died of complications following a miscarriage after multiple births; "If I die," she said, "I die at my post". In 1853 she died in Lisbon giving birth to her eleventh child, Infante Eugénio, who himself died not long after.

Queen Maria II is remembered as a good mother and a kind person who always acted according to her convictions in her attempt to help her country. She was later given the nickname "The Good Mother."

Maria first married Auguste Charles, 2nd Duke of Leuchtenberg, son of Eugène de Beauharnais, grandson of Empress Josephine, who died soon after arriving in Portugal. She then married Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, son of Prince Ferdinand Georg August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife Princess Maria Antonia Koháry de Csábrág.

Titles and styles

• 4 April 1819 - 6 March 1821: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Beira, Duchess of Barcelos
• 6 March 1821 - 4 February 1822: Her Royal Highness Infanta Maria da Glória of Portugal
• 4 February 1822 - 12 October 1822: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Beira, Duchess of Barcelos
• 12 October 1822 - 2 December 1825: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Princess Imperial of Brazil
• 2 December 1825 - 2 May 1826: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Princess of Grão-Pará
• 2 May 1826 – 23 June 1828: Her Most Faithful Majesty The Queen of Portugal and the Algarves
• 23 June 1828 - 26 May 1834: Her Most Faithful Majesty Queen Maria II of Portugal
• 26 May 1834 - 15 November 1853: Her Most Faithful Majesty The Queen of Portugal and the Algarves

Honours

Domestic

• She was Grand Mistress of the following orders:
  • Military Order of Our Knights of Lord Jesus Christ
  • Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
  • Military Order of Saint James of the Sword
  • Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa
  • Order of the Tower and Sword
  • Order of Saint Isabel

Foreign

•  Spain: Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa
•  Empire of Brazil: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
•  Russia: Dame of the Order of St. Catherine