Maximilien Ier of Mexico

Emperor of Mexico

The ambitions imperialists of Napoleon III led it to intervene in the Mexican policy. Under pretext of obtain the refunding of the debts of the government of Benito Juárez, France took part in the Expédition of Mexico at the sides of the Spaniards and the English, planning to reimplant itself on the American continent. After the departure of the allied forces in 1862, the French decided to remain on the spot and to occupy the country to make of it an industrialized nation which would compete with the the United States.

Maximilien, believer to count on the support of the people, accepted the throne of Mexico which the conservatives offered to him supporting the position of France, among which the general Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, wire of the general Jose María Morelos.

During the first days of March 1864, with Paris, Maximilien accepted the compromises stipulated in the Convention of Miramar. Inter alia, it renonçait with its rights to the crown of Austria. To count on the French support, it contracted with Napoleon III an obligation of 500 Mexican million pesos. Unanimously, the whole of the notable ones which formed the Regencia of Mexico City had offered the crown to Maximilien, ensuring the support of the people to him.

Maximilien arrived at the Mexico the May 28th 1864 by the port of Veracruz. Maximilien and his Charlotte wife were installed in the palate of Chapultepec on a hill in the suburbs of Mexico City. This palate was formerly used by the Aztèques before being transformed into military academy. Maximilien required that one trace an avenue of the Château of Chapultepec until the center of the capital.

Maximilien started to control on June 12th. He endeavoured to defend the French, oscillating interests between the liberals and the republicans, but without managing to really exert a domination on Mexico. The measurements taken by its government applied only to the parts of the territory controlled by the French garrisons. Its difficulties with the French marshal François Achille Bazaine had as consequences which the troops of Napoleon withdrew before the time envisaged in the Convention of Miramar. The liberals and the republicans, carried out by Benito Juárez, could then be opposed openly to Maximilien.

To entreat the fate, Maximilien sent in Europe his wife, become the Carlota empress, to require the assistance of the monarchs in place. Napoleon III refused any support and it moved towards the Italy, where the primary symptoms of the madness were declared which was to reach it during long years until its death. During this time, the liberals had formed an army, leaving only with the imperial troops the capital Mexico City, Veracruz, Puebla and Querétaro. March 4th 1867, the forces ordered by the liberal general Mariano Escobedo besieged Querétaro. The next May 15th, the city was taken and the Maximilien emperor was apprehended with the generals Miguel Miramon and Tomas Mejia.

Died

Maximilien is carried out on order of Juárez, for the example, on June 14th, 1867. Going towards the execution, it tightens with the abbot his watch which contains the portrait of Carlota , his wife, and known as: “Send this memory in Europe to my quite dear wife, if she saw, say to him whom my eyes will close with its image that I carry up there” . Then he exclaims: “I forgive with all, that all forgive me. That my blood ready to run is widespread for the good of the country. Live Mexico! Live independence! ”

See too

Chronology of Mexico | History of Mexico | Mexico
Forwarding of Mexico | Lists of articles on Mexico
Pelagio Antonio de Labastida there Dávalos
Execution of Maximilien

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