Second Mexican Empire

The Mexican Empire or Second Mexican Empire (1864–1867) was the name of Mexico under a constitutional, hereditary monarchy declared by a Mexican Assembly of Notables in accordance with the interests of the French Empire, during the Second French intervention in Mexico. Napoleon III of France wanted to establish a monarchist ally in the Americas as a restraint upon the growing power of the United States. Chosen as the Mexican emperor was Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. His wife and empress of Mexico was the Belgian princess Charlotte of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Quotes

 * In a very short time, the monarchy will be so firmly established in Mexico, that one will only be surprised not to have tried it sooner.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. When Maximilian left for Mexico, opinions in Belgium were divided about his possibility of success. The Catholic newspapers supported the Empire. After all, with Maximilian they saw the opportunity to restore the privileged position of the Church in Mexico. Le Bien Public, 13 april 1864.


 * If the Mexicans second the lofty views of their new ruler, soon Mexico will have recovered its former splendor and soon also order will resume its empire where anarchy and evil passions have exercised their disastrous influence.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. The liberal Catholic Le Journal de Bruxelles was less enthusiastic about the empire. Her correspondents in France in particular saw little future for the Empire. Le Journal de Bruxelles, 22 april 1864.


 * Will make good soldiers, very devoted to the government of Emperor Maximilian.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. Le Journal de Bruxelles, 25 april 1864.


 * The enterprise that Archduke Maximilian will attempt remains what it was on the first day, an adventure where, besides a lot of energy, tact and resources, we must add a lot of happiness to succeed.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. The liberal opinion had its reservations. After all, it was a democratic and liberal regime that had been overthrown by the French to be replaced by a monarchy. They did not share the Catholic belief that religion would have such a positive effect on the establishment of the empire. The expedition was seen as a venture that had a chance of success, but which would require a lot of luck. Le Journal de Bruxelles, 25 april 1864.


 * Will you believe that I am not convinced that all the Mexican debt holders will be paid, that the Archduke will obtain from the Holy Father a concordat which satisfies the faith of the bishops and the population, that the silver mines will pay floods of this precious metal in the coffers of the emperor, that the Mexicans will become good and placid bourgeois like the Tyroleans of Brixen or Botrena.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. L’ Echo du Parlement, 9 april 1864.


 * but we must still expect long local resistance on distant points, struggles with bodies of supporters much more numerous and dangerous than the insurrectionary bands whose clerical and legitimist newspapers have made so much noise on the occasion of the difficult establishment of the new Italian monarchy in the kingdom of Naples.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. L Echo du Parliament clearly criticized the predictions that the establishment of the Mexican Empire would go smoothly. Moreover, it was foreseen that the fight against the guerrillas could continue for a long time. L’ Indépendance Belge, 8 april 1864.


 * It remains to be seen how far Mexico spontaneously and voluntarily rallied to the new empire and whether the republic of Juarez was not, despite all its vices, the true national government, the one that had, at the time of its establishment, the sympathies of the majority of the population.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. The manner in which the new empire was established was questioned. The validity of the plebiscite held by the French was questioned. L’ Indépendance Belge, 21 april 1864.


 * Congress declares that it cannot recognize the founding of a monarchy on the ruins of a Mexican republic with the help of a European power.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. The attitude of the United States towards the Mexican Empire was usually described as follows, following a ruling by the United States Congress. SCHOONOVER, Triumph of Liberalism, blz. 157-162.


 * The day when the conflict of the two belligerent Americans is ended by the defeat of one or the other, or by the reconciliation of both, that day French troops will be needed more than ever to defend the new empire. of an aggressive interpretation of the doctrine of Monroë.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), An imperial crown for Maximilian. This statement, which appeared in the Belgian newspapers, made clear the position of the United States towards Maximilian. He didn't count on recognition. But how far would the United States like to go? The end of the civil war would in any case bring problems for the empire. SCHOONOVER, Triumph of Liberalism, blz. 157-162.


 * Certainly, in such conditions there is enough to seduce those of our young officers whom Belgian neutrality condemns to a rest of which they are somewhat impatient. The honor of carrying with dignity abroad the name of the fatherland and that of defending the august daughter of a beloved sovereign will soon, we have no doubt, fill the ranks of the Belgian-Mexican legion.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), Belgian volunteers for their princess On March 24, 1864, the formation of a Belgo-Mexican Volunteer Legion was announced. Immediately positions were taken. The Liberals supported the formation of the regiment despite their doubts about the establishment of the Empire. The legion could also count on Catholic support, albeit with some reservations. However, others immediately launched a campaign against the formation of the legion. L’ Indépendance Belge, 25 maart 1864.


 * Whatever opinion one forms of the enterprise to which Archduke Maximilian has just devoted his life, it is not possible for us Belgians to forget that the princess who shares the destinies of the new emperor is also the beloved daughter of our king, that she grew up among us, that our homeland is her own, and that she has the right to count on the sympathies and the wishes of her compatriots.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), Belgian volunteers for their princess On March 24, 1864, the formation of a Belgo-Mexican Volunteer Legion was announced. Immediately positions were taken. The Liberals supported the formation of the regiment despite their doubts about the establishment of the Empire. The legion could also count on Catholic support, albeit with some reservations. However, others immediately launched a campaign against the formation of the legion. L’ Indépendance Belge, 25 maart 1864.


 * It is understandable that a colonial establishment organized under such conditions cannot fail to prosper. We are also convinced that the example of the Empress' s guards will be followed by a large number of our compatriots who, trusting with reason in the new situation in Mexico, will take advantage of all this set of circumstances so exceptionally advantageous, to to go bring the contribution of their arms and their intelligence to the beautiful work of civilization undertaken by the emperor Maximilian and the empress Charlotte, his august companion.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), Belgian volunteers for their princess On March 24, 1864, the formation of a Belgo-Mexican Volunteer Legion was announced. Immediately positions were taken. The Liberals supported the formation of the regiment despite their doubts about the establishment of the Empire. The legion could also count on Catholic support, albeit with some reservations. However, others immediately launched a campaign against the formation of the legion. L’ Indépendance Belge, 25 maart 1864.


 * This is no proof that our Belgian people are not as foolish as some think, and that there are few in Belgium who voluntarily play soldier.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), Belgian volunteers for their princess Maximilian's Mexico was in conflict with the United States and the newspapers feared that Belgium would be dragged into a possible war. The lack of volunteers was reported triumphantly to her readership. Het Handelsblad, 20 augustus 1864.


 * Between the imperial government and the clergy, which is the highest expression of the conservative party in Mexico, there is only one possible occasion for conflict: it is the question of ecclesiastical property.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), The New Throne, Catholic Opposition Le Journal de Bruxelles, 18-19 juli 1864.


 * The most enthusiastic members of the Liberal Party are seduced, but the clergy and their party have for some time shown a kind of mistrust, which is explained moreover, for the moment is approaching when the question of the property of the clergy will have to be resolved, and the 'we are anxiously awaiting the decision that must be made to settle this big affair.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), The New Throne, Catholic Opposition Le Journal de Bruxelles, 18-19 juli 1864.


 * It is not likely that such an important and energetic step could be taken without great results for his rule and his popularity. At the moment we are hardly in a position to judge the success and extent of it, but it certainly contains within itself the means to regenerate Mexico. The first problem that the new emperor will now have to solve will be that of satisfying the Liberal Party without alienating the affection of the Church.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), The New Throne, Catholic Opposition L’ Echo du Parlement, 5 februari 1865.


 * This is how the Mexican Empire will perish, a creation based on the assumption of a southern triumph and which today finds itself singularly compromised by the opposite result. Even with a president less democratic than Mr. Johnson, the United States would never have tolerated the establishment at its gates of an absolute monarchy under the rule of a foreign dynasty. The misfortunes of the civil war did not allow them to oppose it when the facts were unfolding. Perhaps in order to avoid a war with France they will not attack the new order of things directly, but certainly they would do nothing to support it, and the disbandment of their armies will provide them with all the desirable means to overthrow it indirectly.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), The New Throne, Catholic Opposition The attitude of the United States was seen as crucial in Belgian opinion. And the reports about this became more hostile, no one doubted that the United States supported Juarez. Which would be one of the major reasons for Maximilian's fall. L’ Indépendance Belge, 18 mei 1865.


 * The latest news from Mexico presents an encouraging picture of the consolidation of the Mexican Empire. The Emperor and Empress are tireless in their charitable work, and they are supported by the elite of the people.
 * The Mexican adventure of Maximilian and Charlotte through Belgian eyes. The Mexican Empire in the Newspaper Press (1864-1867). (Wim Bouw), The Tumbling Throne The withdrawal of the French troops and the attack on Baghdad dealt a severe blow to Belgian opinion's confidence in the Empire. However, the situation was not described as hopeless by all newspapers. Unsurprisingly, the perennial optimist, L'Echo, insisted that the Empire would settle. Le Bien Public, 6 februari 1866.