Born: 27 April 1806, Italy
Died: 22 August 1878
Country most active: Spain
Also known as: Italian: Maria Cristina Ferdinanda di Borbone, Principessa delle Due Sicilie, Spanish: María Cristina de Borbón, Princesa de las Dos Sicilias
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies was the queen consort of Spain from 1829 to 1833 and regent of the kingdom on behalf of her daughter Isabella from 1833 to 1840. During the regency, she successfully fended off multiple attempts to steal her daughter’s birthright and place her dead husband’s brother, Carlos, on the throne.