#8: Maria II of Portugal – 7 years old
In 1826, seven-year-old Maria II was named Queen of Portugal when her father, Pedro IV, gave up the Portuguese crown. This was no simple handover. Her uncle Miguel soon betrayed the family, seizing power and forcing the young queen and her supporters into exile. A bitter civil war erupted, fought in Maria’s name to restore her rightful place on the throne. The fighting lasted years, but her side was ultimately victorious. In 1834, at the age of 15, Maria finally returned to Portugal and took control of the government. She went on to have one of the longest reigns of any Portuguese monarch in the 19th century.
