María Carlota of Mejico
María Carlota I of Mejico (4 November 1787 - 12 November 1855), full name María Carlota Josefa Amalia Cristina de Borbón y Braganza, was Queen of Mejico from 1825 until her death in 1855. She is the only queen regnant in the history of Mejico. She was the daughter of King Gabriel I of New Spain, sister of King Pedro, and aunt of Gabriel II, whom she deposed in the Iturbidist Coup of 1825.
Born in Spain a year before the proclamation of her father as King of New Spain, María Carlota was the second child and only daughter of the young prince and his wife Mariana Victoria of Portugal. She received a private education in the Royal Palace of Mejico City, having a privileged upbringing. Known for her sharp mind and charismatic presence, María Carlota stood out and would later play a significant public role. In 1806, she would marry the Criollo general Agustín de Iturbide, a rising star in the Novohispanic military.
As Agustín de Iturbide's influence grew in the country, so did María Carlota's involvement in the political scene. Her wise advice and keen insights earned her a place as a trusted advisor to her husband, shaping their shared goals. But María Carlota's most defining moment came in 1825 when, as a member of the regency council for her nephew Gabriel II, together with her husband and with the support of key military leaders, politicians, and other council members, the council was dissolved, and Gabriel II was exiled to the city of Monterrey. María Carlota was deemed queen suo juris, rather than queen consort, making her the only queen regnant in Mejican history.
Immediately after coming into power, the House of Bourbon-Iturbide proclaimed the name of the country to be Mejico in a popular move. This period was marked by economic growth and ideological conflict. The Bourbon-Iturbides counted on the support of the Church, landowners, and the army, stabilizing their hold on the throne. However, political factions such as republicans, federalists, and liberals emerged, opposing the monarchs. Zacatecas would experience an uprising in 1835, leading to the convention of the National Assembly in the following year, addressing the nation's pressing issues, and devolving a certain degree of power to the legislative bodies.
Other important events during the reign of María Carlota and Agustín are the secession of Central America in 1838, the proclamation of the Royal Decree of Graces of 1839, facilitating the settlement of Tejas and the Fulgencines, the discovery of gold in San Fulgencio in 1843, triggering the San Fulgencio Gold Rush, a mass migration of Mejicans, Americans, Europeans, and Asians into the region, the change of hands of the government between Conservatives and Liberals, and the coup of Santa Anna.
María Carlota's legacy remains an indelible imprint on the pages of Mejican history. Her personality, coupled with her shrewd political acumen, positioned her as a pivotal figure during a transformative period in Mejican history. Her profound empathy for the people and her patronage of the arts earned her enduring respect, as she is seen as one of Mejico's most important historical female figures.