Isabel II, reina de España, su esposo Francisco de Asís y sus tres hijos

The first-born daughter of Ferdinand VII (1784-1833) and his fourth wife, Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1806-1878), the future Isabella II was sworn in as Princess of Asturias before the Spanish Cortes in the Church of San Jerónimo El Real in Madrid, on 20th June 1833. Barely three months later, she became Queen of Spain after the death of Ferdinand VII on 29th September that same year. During her minority, her mother Queen Maria Christina, and later General Baldomero Espartero, acted as regents. Isabella II's childhood was marked not only by the outbreak of the first Carlist War (1833-1840), which called into question her legitimacy as Queen against the supporters of her uncle, the Infante Carlos María Isidro (1788-1855), but...

The third of eleven children born to the Infante Francisco de Paula (1794-1865) and Luisa Carlotta of the Two Sicilies (1804-1844), Francisco de Asís de Borbón was the grandson of Charles IV (1748-1819) on his father’s side. An Infante of Spain, Duke of Cadiz and Knight of the Orders of Charles III and the Golden Fleece, he married his first cousin Isabella II (1830-1904) on 10th October 1846 in a ceremony held at the Royal Palace of Madrid. Francisco de Asís de Borbón's pretensions to the hand of his cousin the Queen was boosted by his support among the French and British governments, as well as by his Spanish origin. From the moment of their marriage, Francisco de Asís de Borbón...

The sixth of ten children born to Queen Isabella II (1830-1904) and her husband and King consort Francisco de Asís (1822-1902), the future Alfonso XII was first educated by the Marquess of Alcañices, then head of the Prince's Chamber. In 1865, the responsibility of his education was given to the Count of Ezpeleta. That same year, General Álvarez Osorio was appointed his head of studies; Canon Cayetano Fernández, his professor of religion, later succeeded by the Archbishop of Burgos; and Bernardo Uribarri, Isidro Losa and Guillermo Morphy were appointed his Gentlemen of the Bedchamber. 

After the Revolution of September 1868, and the royal family’s exile in France, Prince Alfonso studied for a year at the Collège Stanislas in Paris....