Maria Christina of Austria
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Maria Christina, Princess Imperial and Archduchess of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia (Maria Christina Désirée Henriette Felicitas Rainiera von Habsburg-Lothringen, 21 July 1858–6 February 1929) was the second Queen consort of King Alfonso XII of Spain and was Queen Regent of Spain during the minority of her son Alfonso XIII and during the abeyancy of the throne before his birth, from November 25 1885 - 7 May 1902.
Known to her family as Christa, she was born at Zidlochovice Castle (Gross Seelowitz), near Brno, in Moravia, a daughter of Archduke Karl Ferdinand and his wife, Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria.
Her paternal grandparents were Archduke Charles of Austria and Princess Henriette Alexandrine of Nassau-Weilburg.
Maria Christina married King Alfonso XII of Spain on 29 November 1879 at the Royal Palace in Madrid, and became the mother of his only three legitimate children: Infanta Mercedes, Princess of Asturias, Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain, and Alfonso (born posthumously). His previous wife was Mercedes of Orléans, who had died half a year after their marriage, leaving no issue.
When the King died, Maria Christina was pregnant, so the throne was in abeyancy, depending on whether Maria Christina's unborn child was a male or a female; a male would make that child king, while a female would place her elder daughter, Infanta Maria Mercedes, on the throne. During this period, Maria Christina ruled as regent until her child, a son, was born, who was Alfonso XIII of Spain from birth.
She died at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
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