Alfonso XIII (1886-1941) - Find a Grave Memorial

Spanish Monarch. Son and successor of King Alfonso XII. He married Scottish-Born Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, who was the niece of King Edward VII and the grand-daughter of Queen Victoria of England. A Serene Highness by birth, she was raised to Royal Highness status a month before the wedding to prevent the union from being viewed as unequal. Several assassination attempts were made on the couple, the first, a bomb, killed and injured many bystanders and members of the royal procession on their wedding day. During his reign Spain lost its last colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines, lost several wars in Africa and after keeping Spain out of World War I, Alfonso supported the military dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera in 1923. Although he enjoyed some personal popularity, the monarchy was threatened by social unrest, and went into exile, without abdicating, on April 14, 1931. He never returned and just before he died in Rome he renounced his claim to the throne in favor of his third son, Juan de Borbon, Count of Barcelona.

Bio by: Debbie