Queen of Spain from 1833, when she succeeded her father Ferdinand VII (17841833). The Salic Law banning a female sovereign had been repealed by the Cortes (parliament), but her succession was disputed by her uncle Don Carlos de Bourbon (17881855). After seven years of civil war, the Carlists were defeated. She abdicated in favour of her son Alfonso XII in 1868.
Red and white are the colours of Bohemia, dating back to the 13th century. Blue represents Moravia. Unlike that of the Slovak Republic, the Czech flag is not based on the pan-Slav colours. Effective date: 1 January 1993.