Princess Maria II of Portugal was born on April 4, 1819, and became the queen regnant of Portugal in 1834. She was the daughter of King Pedro IV of Portugal and Queen Maria I of Portugal. Her reign was marked by political instability and civil strife, including the Liberal Wars, which were fought between liberal and conservative factions in Portugal. Maria II married Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1836, and they had several children. She worked to modernize Portugal and promote constitutional monarchy. Maria II passed away on November 15, 1853, leaving a significant legacy in Portuguese history.