Queen Isabel II. María Isabel Luisa de Borbón was queen of Spain between September 29, 1833 and September 30, 1868. She was actually proclaimed queen short of her third birthday. Her mother, María Christina de Borbón-Dos Sicilias, became regent. This proclamation provoked a dynastic crisis: Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, Isabel’s uncle, did not accept her as queen which created a division between those who defended Isabel (isabelinos) and those who defended Carlos (carlistas). It gave birth to three Carlist wars (1833-1840, 1846-1849, 1872-1876).

She married Francisco de Asís de Borbón (1846-1902). It is said that Isabel had many lovers and she accused her husband of being homosexual. Francisco de Asís is said to have had many children with other women. Isabel got pregnant twelve times.

After the 1868 Gloriosa Revolution, she went into exile to France, where she died. In 1870 she abdicated in favor of her son, Alfonso XII.