The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-06
MOTHER OF SPANISH
king, REGENT DURING
war, dies IN MADRID
Maria Christina Ruled Spain
From 1889 Until 1902 in
Midst Of Great Strife !.

Madrid, Feb. 6.-(FeMarie Chris.
tina, queen mother OF Spain, under
whose rule as regent Spain fought its
disastrous war with the United States,
died at the royal palace at $50 q. m.
today.
Her son, Alfonso XIII, king Of
Spain, and members Of the royal fam
lily were at her bedside when the end
came after q sudden illness which
quickly Slapped her strength.
Maria Christina ruled Spain as re.
gent for 1889 until 1902, when her
son, Alfonso, who was born six
months after the death of his father.
Alfonso XII, in 1885. became old
enough to assume the throne.
A series Of political events In ner
own country, Austria, which threw
certain responsibilities and interna-
tional duties upon her, caused Maria
Christina, queen dowager OF Spain.
to come out Of life of seclusion up-
on which she entered and eventually
resulted In her marriage to King
Alfonso XII OF Spain. During her
early youth she was recluse In q
convent OF noble women In Austria Of
which she became abbess. It was her
intention, it was said, to take the full
vows OF q nun. when international
and political events interviewed and
made it incumbent upon her to leave
the convent. She met King Alfonso
while he was on q trip to Austria
after the death of his first Queen
Mercedes Of Bourbon, who died with
out issue, and they were married No.
vember %, 1879
Married Only s Years
The married life Of the royal couple
continued for only six years, being
terminated by the death of King AL
fonso XII November Is, 1885. The
young queen was confronted by q Sc
rious situation because Of dissensions
IN Spain and trouble in the Dependent
cies, then located in the Atlantic and
Pacific. Still more serious, however,
in the eyes Of the Spanish people,
was the fact that there was no male
heir to the throne. This apprehen-
sion was removed with the birth Of
the present ruler, King Alfonso XIII,
on May II. 1886, six months after the
death Of his father.
Upon the death of her husband.
Maria Christina assumed the re-
gency of Spain and ruled the country
until May, 1902, when her son reached
the legal age at which he could be
entrusted with the rule OF the mon
archy and assembled the throne.
AT the time Of the death of King
Alfonso XII Spain was recovering
from q serious tilt with Germany
over the possession of the Caroline
Islands in the Pacific. One Of the
islands had been seized by Germany.
the act leading to rioting in Madrid.
during which the German embassy
was damaged. The king had entrust-
ed the controversy to diplomacy and
the Pope decided in favor OF Spain.
American War Disastrous
The most serious blow during the
regency OF Queen Maria Christina to
the once powerful Spanish empire
was the war between Spain and the
United States, which resulted in the
loss to Spain Of the last of its import
ant colonial possessions and termin-
ated Spanish rule in the new world.
The dowager queen was born at
Gro6S-SeeloW1tz, Austria, July 81,
1853, the daughter of Archduke
Charles Ferdinand and Archduchess
Elizabeth Francisco Maria. Her faith
er was first cousin Of the late EN-
peror Francis Joseph. Since her son. =
King Alfonso XIII. assembled the
throne she had lived virtually in re-
tirement. except for interest taken in
charitable and religious institutions.
She also superintendent much OF the
education Of her grandchildren. The
dowager queen always was noted for
the plainness and simplicity Of her
lie, although on state occasions she
insisted on maintaining the strict
Austrian court etiquette In which she
was reared.
Maria Christina, had two daugh-
ters. the 1nfantas Marie de las Mer.
cedes, born in 1880. and Maria Their
ese, born in 1882. Their deaths. like
their births, occurred two years apart.
the former dying in 1904 and the lat
ter in 1906.
MInicfops Cnn1<lr Hs~l~