Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) traveled through time as the “Austrian She-Wolf”. He was one of the characters who aroused the greatest hatred of the French people and a key figure in the beginning of the revolutionary process. The queen consort, who not only does not remain in the shadow of her husband, but also Louis XVIHer bad reputation increased when the French Revolution broke out and she was held responsible for starting the revolutionary process that ended with the guillotine of the monarchy.

There are many royal consorts who, like Marie Antoinette, played a key role in history. Some went unnoticed, others were hated by the people. But many of them went down in history. Husbands and wives of the monarchy who ascended the throne. Some were content to remain in the shadows, others, however, wanted more, sought their share of power and made decisions worthy of a king.

The truth is that the royal consort cannot authorize or promulgate laws, nor can she convene or dissolve the Cortes. Unlike the sovereign, they have no set obligations and responsibilities, which does not mean that their role was irrelevant. This is how historian Cristina Barreiro explains it in her new book. Royal consorts. Wives and husbands of the monarchy from the 18th century to the present day, a step back in time through the biographies of those who have held the position of king or queen consort in the modern era. One hundred and four biographical approaches to real spouses, of which ninety-six correspond to women and only eight to men. From Marie Antoinette through Isabella of Braganza, Maria Cristina of Naples, Felipe of Edinburgh or Sissi.

Grenadine, hated by the French

Eugenia de Montijo (1826–1920) was without a doubt one of the most influential royal consorts and the most active in political life. This is not surprising, since he had to serve as regent three times.

Upon coming to power after her marriage to Napoleon III, Eugenie de Montijo donated 600,000 francs from her wedding gift of jewelry from Paris to charity. He founded hospitals, asylums and orphanages. She also promoted women’s rights to university education. And all this time the French watched the Grenadines with suspicion.

He supported the research of Lois Pasteur, one of the best chemists of the time. During the Second French Empire (1852-1870), at a time when the field of art and literature was censored, The Empress defended culture and art, patronized writers and journalists, and invited them to her residences.. He admired Marie Antoinette and He became a fashion icon, just like her.a legacy that continues to this day and has served as inspiration for many designers.

Queen Consort in Spain

Many people know, but many forget, that Isabel de Braganza (1797-1818) was promoter of the creation of the Prado Museum. The daughter of King John VI of Portugal, she married her uncle Ferdinand VII. He arrived in Spain in September 1816. And although from the first moment he wanted to win the favor of the Spaniards, his bulging eyes and plump face caused a lot of ridicule.

Barreiro recounts in her book that the Portuguese woman, a cultured woman with artistic sensitivity, discovered the enormous heritage that her adopted country possessed, and that it was she who convinced the king to catalogue, unify, transfer and present to the public the artistic wealth of the Crown that had accumulated in the cellars. Later the Prado Museum will appear.

Isabel de Braganza was the driving force behind the Prado Museum, and Marie Antoinette was a key figure in the revolutionary process.

Although some of the royal consorts were not involved in politics or culture, their behavior had consequences for the people. Maria Christina of Naples (1806-1878) arrived in Spain at the end of 1829 with the goal of finally producing offspring for Ferdinand VII, after three unsuccessful marriages. But the king died, and it was she who had to take over control in 1833. As the historian says, during those years of the regency the queen did not want to deal with the political conflict. In fact, his relationship with his bodyguard Fernando Muñoz did not particularly please the city, and he went into exile in 1840.

Another Maria Christinathis time from Habsburg (1858-1929), daughter of Carlos Ferdinand of Austria-Teschen and Archduchess Isabella Francisca, came to Spain to get married. Alfonso XII. They had two daughters, and while she was pregnant with the third, the king died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-seven.

Once again, the Queen Consort was widowed and had to take the reins of power into her own hands and exercise the regency. The historian says that some thought she was not ready to take on government tasks, and “they were wrong.”

“He served as regent for eighteen years on behalf of his third son Alfonso XIII. During his regency universal male suffrage and Spain was successfully sold thanks to major celebrations such as the World Exhibition in Barcelona or the events of the 4th century of the discovery of America, which took place in Seville,” explains Barreiro.

And not only this. He ordered the construction of the Miramar Palace in San Sebastian, as well as the expansion of recreation and bathing, which were prohibited at that time.

Spain had more queen consorts. How Victory well (1847-1876), wife of Amadeo de Saboya, who was never loved in Spain, but who did important charity work or Mercedes Orleans (1860-1878), first wife of his cousin Alfonso XII. He also ascended the throne Victoria Evgenia (1887-1968), who promoted this institution. Women Red Cross nurses improve healthcare in Spain.

They also had their place

Among such a large number of women, Barreiro is also among the king consorts of the modern era who, although fewer in number, also played a role in history. This is exactly the case in Spain. Francis of Assisi (1822-1902). Son of the Infante Francisco de Paula, grandson of Carlos IV and cousin of his wife Isabella II. Barreiro says in the book that the king consort wanted her share of power, although he had difficulty obtaining it. He sympathized with neo-Catholic movements, although, as the historian explains, “in the depths of his soul he did this only in order not to be excluded from politics.”

There were more, but probably the most famous King Consort is Philip of Edinburgh (1921-2021), son of Prince Andrei, the youngest of the children of King George I of Greece and Grand Duchess Olga. At the same time, he always remained in the shadow of Queen Elizabeth II. This was the role that history had given him – to always be two steps behind her. A sporty man, a great environmentalist who made countless headlines and was the queen’s eternal consort. His death in April 2021 shocked the English crown, but not as much as that of his wife Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022.