Maria II of Portugal

Maria da Glória Joana Carlota Leopoldina da Cruz Francisca Xavier de Paula Isidora Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Gonzaga was born on 4 April 1819, in Rio de Janeiro. She was the eldest daughter of the future King Pedro IV of Portugal (and first Emperor of Brazil), and his first wife, Maria Leopoldina of Austria.

The death of Maria's grandfather, King João VI of Portugal, in March 1826 sparked a succession crisis in Portugal. The King had a male heir, Pedro, but he had proclaimed the independence of Brazil a few years before, in 1822, making himself Emperor. The King also had a second son, Miguel, but he was exiled in Austria after leading a number of revolutions against his father.

Before his death, João had nominated his favourite daughter, Isabel Maria, to serve as regent until the legitimate heir returned to the Kingdom. However, he failed to specify which of his sons was the heir: Pedro, the liberal or Miguel, the absolutist.

Most people considered Pedro the legitimate heir, but Brazil wasn't interested in uniting the thrones of Portugal and Brazil again. Pedro was aware that his brother's supporters were ready to put Miguel on the throne, so he decided on a more consensual option: he would renounce his claim to the Portuguese throne in favour of his daughter Maria, who would marry her uncle, Miguel. Miguel would have to accept the liberal constitution and, in turn, would act as regent until she reached majority.

Miguel pretended to accept, but as soon as he arrived in Portugal, he deposed Maria and proclaimed himself King, repealing the liberal constitution in the process. Then began the Liberal Wars that lasted until 1834, the year in which Maria returned to the throne and Miguel was exiled.

The Marquis of Barbacena, arriving in Gibraltar with Maria, was informed of what was happening in Portugal. He had the foresight to understand that Miguel had come from Vienna with the intention of putting himself at the head of the absolutist movement and so it was dangerous for Maria to go to Vienna. He changed the direction of the journey and, on 7 October 1828, they arrived in London. However, the Duke of Wellington's office openly supported Miguel.

Meanwhile, in Portugal, Miguel's coup had not gone unnoticed and people weren't happy. On 16 May 1828, the garrison of Porto revolted and, a few days later, on 25 May, an infantry battalion in Lagos followed. These revolts were stifled. Saldanha, Palmela and others who came to take charge of the liberal movement in Porto re-embarked on the same ship that brought them; the Porto garrison (reinforced by volunteers from Coimbra and other liberal troops) emigrated to Galiza and then to England. At the head of a small liberal expedition, the Marquis of Saldanha tried to disembark in Terceira (Azores) but the British ship didn't allow it. However, they couldn't avoid the debarkation of the Earl of Vila Flor.
A battle, called the Battle of 11 August, happened in the village of Praia; the absolutists were defeated. When the emigrants in England received the news of the victory, they felt great enthusiasm. However, they soon lost hope: Maria was returning to Brazil, to meet her father. The Queen left London to meet her future stepmother, Amélie de Leuchtenberg, and they both travelled to Brazil, arriving on 16 October 1829.

The constitutional cause was thought to have been lost. Only Terceira recognised the constitutional principles, and even there some absolutist guerrillas appeared. France was ready to recognise Miguel's government when the revolution of July 1830 broke in Paris. This was an encouragement for the Portuguese liberals.

On 7 April 1831, Pedro I of Brazil abdicated in favour of his son, Pedro II. He came to Europe with his daughter and his second wife, ready to support Maria's claim to the Portuguese crown. Almost at the same time, the regency of Terceira (the Marquis of Palmela, the Earl of Vila Flor and José António Guerreiro) prepared an expedition that soon took possession of the Azores. While liberal territory was being extended, Pedro arrived in France, where he was warmly welcomed by the new government and Louis Philippe I, King of the French.

Pedro left his daughter in Paris to finish her education and left for the Azores. He arrived on 3 March 1832, formed a new ministry, assembled a small army and departed for mainland Portugal. He landed at Praia da Memória, Matosinhos, on 8 July 1832. This was followed by the Siege of Porto and a series of battles until, on 24 July 1833, the Duke of Terceira entered victorious in Lisbon.
Pedro travelled to Lisbon and summoned Maria from Paris. Miguel was forced to abdicate and Maria was finally restored to the throne. She also obtained an annulment for the betrothal with her uncle.

Maria married Auguste, Duke of Leuchtenberg on 26 January 1835, at the age of 15. However, Auguste died only two months later, on 28 March 1835.

On 1 January 1836, Maria married for the second time. The groom was the cultured Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In accordance to the Portuguese law, he received the title of King upon the birth of their first child and heir, Pedro.

Maria's reign was notable for a public health act aimed at restraining the spread of cholera throughout the country. She also pursued policies aimed at raising the levels of education of the population.

From her first pregnancy, at the age of 18, Maria faced problems in giving birth, with prolonged and difficult labour. At the age of 25 and in her 5th pregnancy, the sovereign became obese and her births became even more complicated. In 1847, the fetal distress that preceded the birth of her eighth son, Augusto, resulted in a child quite purple and with little breathing. This dangerous routine of successive pregnancies, coupled with obesity and the frequency of dystocic births (obstructed labour, the baby can't exit the pelvis) led doctors to warn the Queen about the serious risks she would face in future pregnancies. Indifferent, Maria simply replied If I die, I die at my post. Ferdinand and Maria had 11 children: Pedro (the future Pedro V), Luís (the future Luís I), Maria, João, Maria Ana, Antónia, Fernando, Augusto, Leopoldo, Maria da Glória and Eugénio.

On 15 November 1853, 13 hours after the start of labour of her last son, Eugénio, Maria II, Queen of Portugal and the Algarves died, aged just 34.

Maria is remembered as a good mother and a kind person who always acted according to her convictions in her attempt to help the country. She was later given the nickname A Boa Mãe (The Good Mother).

Maria II of Portugal

John Simpson

c. 1837