Isabella, Princess of Asturias (1851–1931)
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For other Princesses of Asturias named Isabella, see Isabella, Princess of Asturias (disambiguation)
Infanta Isabella, Princess of Asturias (1851–1931), was twice the recognized heir presumptive to the throne of Spain. She was invariantly called "Princesa" in Spain, as the eldest daughter and a holder or formerholder of Asturias, her younger sisters being more usually called with the prefix "Infanta".
She was born as the 2nd eldest surviving child of the then-reigning Queen Isabella II of Spain, from her marriage with her first cousin and king consort, Francis of Spain.
In the turmoiled age of Carlist uprisings and sporadic civil war, Isabella was immediately recognized as the heir to her mother's throne, by granting her the traditional crown-princely title of Asturias.
When her younger brother, the future Alfonso XII of Spain was born in 1857, young Isabella moved to be the second-in-line to the throne, the boy becoming Prince of Asturias.
When Alfonso ascended the throne in 1875, and had not yet any own children, the 14-year old Isabella returned to the position of heiress-presumptive. This she lost finally in 1880 upon the birth of Alfonso's first child, Infantia Marie Louise of Spain, the next Princess of Asturias.
Isabella was married in 1868 to her mother's and father's first cousin, Prince Gaetan, Count of Girgenti (1846-71). He was created Infante of Spain. Princess Isabella was reportedly very popular and respected in Madrid. Isabella died, at 79, in exile in France soon after her nephew Alfonso XIII had lost the throne.
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Isabella, Princess of Asturias (1851–1931)
Born: 1851 Died: 1931 |
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| Spanish royalty | ||
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| Vacant
Title last held by
Princess Isabellaher mother |
Princess of Asturias First Time 1851–1857 |
Succeeded by Prince Alfonso |
| Vacant
Title last held by
Prince Alfonso |
Princess of Asturias Second Time 1875-1880 |
Succeeded by Infanta Mercedes |
