In the end of 1860 and the beginning of 1861, the United States began to experience the largest political crisis in their history. As states began to leave the Union, their southern neighbor Mexico was also in turmoil. Liberal and Conservative factions had been in a civil war since 1857. Liberal forces led by Benito Juárez eventually won the war on December 22, 1860 and formally took control of the government in January 1861. However, many conservative generals and nobility refused to surrender and engaged in guerrilla warfare and assassinations.

European empires eagerly paid attention to the political turmoil in the Americas. They correctly wagered that the United States would be unable to enforce their Monroe Doctrine while in a civil war. This doctrine was enacted in 1823 by President James Monroe and officially stated “…that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.”

The Mexican government was in severe monetary debt to France, Spain, and Britain. And to disrupt the new hostile liberal government taking over, they began to call on repayments that bankrupted Mexico. President Benito Juárez put a pause on making these payments, prompting these three empires to send troops to occupy the country and support Conservative factions.

As early as 1859, Mexican Nobility and conservatives wanted to restore a monarchy to resist liberal reforms. The Habsburg family ruled over Mexico from 1521 to 1821, and Mexican conservatives enticed Ferdinand Maximilian, the younger brother of the Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph, to become a monarch. He refused at first but eventually agreed in 1863 after French troops and conservatives retook most of the country. In response to this, Britain and Spain condemned the imperialism and pulled out their military units in Mexico.

To the surprise of Mexican conservatives who empowered him, the 30 year old emperor supported many of the liberal reforms. However, many Mexicans refused to recognize his authority and his ~3-year reign was violently contested. After the United States finally finished up their civil war in 1865, they applied diplomatic pressure on France to leave and armed the liberals with war materials. French troops left Mexico and Maximilian’s regime was in a desperate situation, eventually having to flee their seat of power in Mexico City.

Maximilian still had loyal Mexicans and Europeans fighting with him against all odds. His forces would be pushed into the city of Santiago de Querétaro and be placed under siege. On May 15th the city fell and the Emperor attempted to escape through republican lines with a loyal hussar cavalry brigade. He was captured and following a court-martial, he was sentenced to death. Despite heavy internal and external pressure to spare his life, Benito Juarez refused to commute the sentence to send a strong message to foreign governments.

Maximilian’s supporters devised an escape plan requiring him to shave his notorious facial hair. However, Maximilian would not go through with it because he felt that shaving his beard to avoid recognition would ruin his dignity. Maximilian and his two loyal Generals Miramón and Mejía would be killed by firing squad on the early morning of June 19th. His last words were:

"I forgive everyone, and I ask everyone to forgive me. May my blood, which is about to be shed, be for the good of the country. Viva Mexico, viva la independencia!

[Online References]

(https://history.state.gov/.../1861-1865/french-intervention )

(https://www.history.com/this.../emperor-of-mexico-executed )

(https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/arts/design/03mane.html )

(https://www.learner.org/courses/globalart/work/44/index.html )

Monroe Doctrine text:

(www.ushistory.org/documents/monroe.htm )

Artwork: Last moments of Emperor Maximilian I of México. by Jean-Paul Laurens

Authored by R.E. Foy