Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-12-02
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Historical sketch oi the Deceased Ruler.

Alfonso XII ALFONSO Francisco de Assist Fer
dinando Pho Juan Maria de la Conception Gre.
gorio, etc King OF Spain, eldest son OF the ex-
Queen Isabella H., was born Nov. %, 1857. When
his mother driven from the throne by the
revolution Of 1868, he accompanied her to
Paris where he resided with her for some time,
but subsequently he went to Austria in order
to prosecute his studies in the Theresianum, or
nobleman's academy. at Vienna, to which he
was admitted Jan. 20 1872 He remained there
three months. june q, 1879. Queen Isabella
formally nblicated her right to the throne
of Spain in favor of her son, but no
open steps were taken at that time to
secure for him the position which this abdica-
tion left open to him. His pretensioDs were,
however, opposed by his cousin the eldest son
Of the Duke OF Montpensier, and his aunt, the
Infanta Lnisa, but as SO many qretenders were
calculated to complicate matters, the claim OF
Louis Philippes grandson was ultimately
waived in favor of tho heir of Isabella Early in
1874 the Prince Of the Asturias, as he was then
styled, visited England, was entered stu
dent at the military college at Sandhurst, and
Witnessed the autumn naiicilyers at A1dershot
Dartmoor, and other places in the fall Of the
year December 90 1874, General Martinez
Campos proclaimed him King Of Spain in Va
lenciu, and II few days later Alfonso who
had gone over to Paris in order to
spend the Jour dc ran with his mother, left
France for Spain, arriving Mt Madrid Jan Ia, 1875.
He WAS most enthusiastically received. Feb. I6,
1876, he departed from Madrid,to take command
OF the troops operating against the Carlists, and
the 10Th Of the following month he returned in
triumph to the capital at the head of IS 600 men,
having subdned the Carlist insurrection. In tho
same year the ex-Queen Isabella returned to
Spain, and received by her son at Santander
July 70.
King Alfonso married, Jan. %. 1878, at Madrid,
his cousin, the Princess Maria dc las Mercedes,
Infanta OF Spain, daughter OF the Due de Mont
pensief. (She born June "a, 1907 The ex-
Queen Isabella was much opposed to this union,
and to mark her disapproyal she left Spain and
went to Paris before the marriage ceremony
took place. Queen Mercedes died June 26, 1878.
King Alfonso married secondly Nov. %, 1879,
Maria Christina daughter Of the late Archduke
Charles Ferdinand, of Austria. tSbe was born
July 81, 1858
Oct. 25, 1878, King Alfonso was fired at in
Madrid by Juan Moncasi, workman, but es-
capped unhurt. Dec. 30 1879 as the King and
Queen were driving in an open carriage through
the palace gates Mt Madrid youth named Fran,
cisco Otero Gonzalez Igans fired two pistol shots
at the royal pair. one passing between them ana
the other through an attendants hat, but fortu.
nately without doing further damage. Otero
was tried in February, 1850, and sentenced to
death
In 1888 the King made visit to Gern.-ny and
France In Paris demonstration Was made
against him which called out strong feeling in
Spain and made the King more popular in his
own country than he had ever been before. Ihis
popularity WAS increased by his visit to the
chOlera-infected districts last summer
In the order OF succession fixed by the .onsti-
tuition of 1876 Alfonsos children come first then
his sisters. next his aunt, the second daughter Of
King Ferdinand, and her legitimate descend
ants and finally his nncles lthe brothers OF
Ferdinand VIII Should all the lines become
extinct "the nation will elect its monarch