The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-09
The SPANISH DRAMA. The sudden

The SPANISH DRAMA. A.-The sudden
transformation OF Spain from &C.
called republic into monarchy. by
the calling Of Prince Alfonso to the
throne, renders the following histori-
cal summary most interesting. We
quote from the Chicago Tribune:
The Austrian family which ascended
the throne III the person of Charles I,
Emperor Charles W in 1916, ended
In tho person OF Charles II, who died
withot issue in 100. By his will. he
bequeathed the crown to Louis XIV of
France, who had married the sister of
the Spanish King. The crown was
also claimed by Leopold of Austria,
who had married anothe. sister. A
war ensued. in which nearly oil Europe
took part for thirteen years. BY the
reace OF Utrecht, in lib, Philip. the
grandson OF Louis XIV. was confirm
cd as King OF Spain, by yielding Ma
pies. Sardinia. Belgium, and other
States to Austria. and Gibraltar to
England. In 1903, his grand son,
Charles ~, was compelled by Napo-
leon to sbdicate. and Prince Ferdinand
was also compelled to renounce FL!
claim to the succession. In 1914,
after Joseph Bonsparte was driven out
of Spain by the British troops, Ferdi-
land VII was proclaimed King, to the
exclusion Of his father. Ferdinand
had two brothers-Charles, or Don
Carlos. and Francis De Paula. By
the law Of Spain, females were ex-
cluded from the succession. Ferdi-
nand had buried three wives, and,
having no children. Don Carlos was
the eir-presumptive.. Iu 1929, he
married Maria Christine OF Naples, by
whom, in quick succession, he had
two dnughters-Isabella. born in 1880,
aud Maria Louisa. born in 1882. Fer
dlnand died in September, 1888, ha7.
Ing some time previously issued de-
cree abolishing the law excluding fe-
males. thus cutting Don Carlos off
from the succession. Ferdinand had
been most nnmitigated desco!, es
his father had been before him, and Don
Carlos was expected to be worse. TIE
whole nation, therefore, sustained
Isabella, then three years old, who was
pr proclaimed Qneen under the regency
of her mother. Don Carlos ut once
began war, which lated six years.
aud was remarkable for its cruelty and
atrocity. In 1843. the Queen being
thirteen years old, was declared by the
Cortes to be of full age. An intrigue
then began in Europe for the marriage
OF the Queen. Louis Philippe, of
France, who had several unmarried
sous, aud who exercised u sort of guar
dianship over the Spanish family, was
forced to make pledge that he would
not marry either Of his sons to Isa-
bella. 1u 1916 he was successful in
accomplishing the marriage of the
Qneen to her cousin. Francis d'Assisi,
son OF Francis de Paula, thus uniting
the older and younger lines of the
family to the exclusion of the line OF
Don Carlos. The other daughter,
Maria Louiss, was married OF the same
time to Anthony. Duke of Montpen-
sicr. son of Louis Philippe. 1t was
supposed. then, that the French King
had prncticed an intentional fraud.
The husband Of the Queen was under.
stood to he bnt little better than an
lmbecile. in which case the Spanish
crown would be likely to fall to the de-
scendants of the French Prince. Isa-
bella. however, had number Of chill.
| dren, Of whom Ave survive. The
second OF these is Alfonso, who WAS
born in 1857. and is consequently now
between seventeen and eighteen years
of nge. Her sister, the Duchess of
Montpensier, has ten children, inc,ud-
ing several sous.
Alter his unsuccessful war, Don
Carlos. who hud been living in France,
removed to Triests, in Austria, where
he died III 1866. Previous to this,
however, he had renounced the throne
in favor Of iIis son, Count Montmolin.
In 1850. the Count was proclaimed
King by Gen. Ortega, bnt there was
no popular response. In the eame
year MontmoIin and his brothers.
John and Ferdinand, were arrested
they renouuced all claim to the throne
ami We're relcnsed, and subsequently,
repndiated the renunciation. Mont.
mniln aud Ferdinand died in 1851. In
1868. John renounccd in favor of his
sou Charles, who WAS born in March,
l84S, and who is the present claimant
to the throne as Don Carlos. In Jan.
uary, 1868. military insurrection
took place in Spain under Gen. Prim.
This insurreotion increased during the
year. am:! OF the Goth of September
1868, q leon ISabclln | e. Snain fnr