Born in Rio de Janeiro on 4 April 1819, Maria II of Portugal holds the distinction of being the only European monarch born outside of Europe. Ascending to the Portuguese throne at age seven, her life was defined by the Liberal Wars, forced exile, and the complex shifting of royal power between the Braganza family branches.
Succession and Regency
The death of King Dom João VI in 1826 triggered a constitutional crisis. Emperor Dom Pedro I of Brazil, attempting to secure the Portuguese throne without merging the two empires, abdicated in favor of his daughter, Maria. She was intended to marry her uncle, Infante Dom Miguel, who would act as regent. Upon arriving in Portugal in 1828, Miguel abandoned this agreement, declared himself king, and dismantled the liberal constitution, forcing the young queen into years of exile.
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Following the Liberal Wars, Maria’s father, having abdicated the Brazilian throne, led military efforts to reclaim her inheritance. Maria arrived in Portugal in 1833 as Lisbon fell to her supporters. By 1834, Miguel was permanently exiled, and Maria was restored as the undisputed monarch. Her official role was cemented by her leadership as the Grand Mistress of the Order of Saint Isabel, a position she held from 1826 until her death.
Marriage and Reign
The queen’s second reign faced persistent political volatility. In 1835, she married Auguste, Duke of Leuchtenberg, who died only two months later. In 1836, she married Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary, who became King Dom Fernando II. Their union produced an heir, Dom Pedro V, who eventually succeeded her. Maria’s domestic life was marked by frequent pregnancies, which severely impacted her health.
Final Years
Maria II remained a devout follower of the Catholic Church throughout her life. In 1835, she was legally excluded from the Brazilian line of succession. Her service was recognized through various honors, including the Grand Cross of the Sash of the Three Orders and the Golden Rose. She died in Lisbon on 15 November 1853, aged 34, following complications from her final childbirth. She is interred at the Pantheon of the House of Braganza.
Fast facts
- Born: 4 April 1819, Rio de Janeiro
- Died: 15 November 1853, Lisbon
- Reigns: 1826-1828 and 1834-1853
- Religion: Catholic Church
- Father: Emperor Dom Pedro I
- Mother: Empress Dona Maria Leopoldina
- Burial: Pantheon of the House of Braganza
Questions readers ask
Why was Maria II born in Brazil?
She was born in Rio de Janeiro because her father, Dom Pedro I, was at that time the ruler of the Kingdom of Brazil.
How did Maria II die?
She died in childbirth in 1853 at the age of 34.
