Maria Isabel of Braganza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria Isabel of Braganza |
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Bernardo López y Piquer]], depicting Maria Isabel in front of Prado (1829)
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| Queen consort of Spain | |||||
| Tenure | 29 September 1816 – 26 December 1818 | ||||
| Born | 19 May 1797 Palace of Queluz, Portugal |
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| Died | 26 December 1818 (aged 21) Royal Palace of Aranjuez, Aranjuez, Spain |
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| Burial | El Escorial | ||||
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| Issue Detail |
Infanta María Luisa Isabel Infanta María Luisa Isabel |
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| House | Braganza | ||||
| Father | John VI of Portugal | ||||
| Mother | Carlota Joaquina of Spain | ||||
Maria Isabel of Braganza (born May 19, 1797 – died December 26, 1818) was a Portuguese princess. She became the Queen of Spain when she married King Ferdinand VII. She was his second wife.
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Early Life of Maria Isabel
Maria Isabel was born on May 19, 1797. Her full name was Maria Isabel Francisca de Assis Antónia Carlota Joana Josefa Xavier de Paula Micaela Rafaela Isabel Gonzaga. She was the third child of John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina of Spain. Her parents' marriage was not a happy one.
In 1807, Napoleon invaded Portugal. Because of this, the royal family had to leave their home and sail to Brazil. Maria Isabel's mother, Carlota, sent her older brother, Pedro, to travel with their father. Carlota and her other children, including Maria Isabel, traveled on a different ship. When they arrived in Brazil, Carlota and her children had to shave their heads and wear special white hats.
Maria Isabel's Upbringing
Maria Isabel and her brothers and sisters received a good education. Their mother made sure they learned about liberal ideas. People described Maria Isabel as kind, calm, and a bit shy. She was very much like her father in her personality.
Maria Isabel's Marriage to King Ferdinand VII
On March 20, 1816, Queen Maria I of Portugal passed away. This meant Maria Isabel's father, John, became the King of Portugal and Brazil. Soon after, on February 22, 1816, the marriage plans between Ferdinand VII of Spain and Maria Isabel were officially signed. They got married on September 29, 1816. Ferdinand was 32 years old, and Maria Isabel was 19.
After their wedding, Maria Isabel and Ferdinand settled in Madrid. Maria Isabel soon became pregnant. She gave birth to a daughter named María Luisa Isabel on August 21, 1817. Sadly, their daughter died just a few months later.
The Death of Queen Maria Isabel
Maria Isabel became pregnant again shortly after her first daughter's death. This second birth was very difficult. Sadly, the baby did not survive the birth. During this very difficult time, Maria Isabel also passed away on December 26, 1818. She died at the Palace of Aranjuez. She was buried at the Escorial, a royal burial site in Spain.
Maria Isabel's Legacy and the Prado Museum
Queen Maria Isabel loved art very much. She worked hard to collect many valuable artworks from the past. Her goal was to create a royal museum for these treasures. This collection became the start of the famous Museo del Prado in Madrid. The museum officially opened on November 19, 1819, which was about a year after the queen's death.
Maria Isabel's Children
| Name | Lifespan | Notes |
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| María Luisa Isabel Infanta María Luisa Isabel |
21 August 1817 – 9 January 1818 |
Died when she was only four months old. |
| María Luisa Isabel Infanta María Luisa Isabel |
26 December 1818 | Born stillborn (did not survive birth). She was given the same name as her older sister. |
Honours and Royal Symbols
- Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa
- Dame of the Order of Saint Isabel
See also
In Spanish: María Isabel de Braganza para niños Napoleonic Wars
