Editing Alfonso XII (section)

==Death and impact==
[[File:Muerte de Alfonso XII o el Último Beso.jpg|thumb|right|''Death of Alfonso XII'' or ''The last kiss'', by {{ill|Juan Antonio Benlliure|es}}]]
In November 1885, Alfonso died aged 27 at the [[Royal Palace of El Pardo]] near Madrid. He had been suffering from [[tuberculosis]], but the immediate cause of his death was a recurrence of [[dysentery]].<ref>"Death of the King of Spain", ''[[The Times]]'' (26 November 1885): 7.</ref>

In 1902, his widow Maria Cristina initiated a national contest to build a [[Monument to Alfonso XII|monument in memory of Alfonso]]. The winning design, by [[José Grases Riera]], was constructed in an artificial lake in Madrid's [[Parque del Buen Retiro]] in 1922.

Coming to the throne at such an early age, Alfonso had served no apprenticeship in the art of ruling. Benevolent and sympathetic in disposition, he won the affection of his people by fearlessly visiting districts ravaged by [[cholera]] or devastated by the [[1884 Andalusian earthquake]]. His capacity for dealing with men was considerable, and he never allowed himself to become the instrument of any particular party. During his short reign, peace was established both at home and abroad, finances were well regulated, and the various administrative services were placed on a basis that afterwards enabled Spain to pass through the disastrous [[Spanish–American War|war with the United States]] without the threat of a revolution.<ref name="EB1911"/>