The Birth, Regency, and Future Abdication of Alfonso XIII (1886–1931)

Alfonso XIII (r. 1886–1931) was the posthumous son of Alfonso XII, born after his father’s death, making him king from birth. His mother, Maria Cristina of Austria, assumed the role of regent, governing Spain until Alfonso officially came of age in 1902.

Alfonso XIII's reign would be marked by political instability, military interventions, and the decline of the Spanish monarchy, culminating in his abdication in 1931, when Spain transitioned to the Second Republic.