Mexican Empire Imperio Mexicano
← 1821–1823 →   →
Flag Imperial Coat of arms
Motto Religión, Independencia, Unión. Religion, Independence, Union.
Capital	Mexico City
Language(s)	Spanish
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Government	Constitutional Monarchy
Emperor
- 1822–1823	Agustín I
Regent
- 1821–1822	Agustín de Iturbide
- 1822	Nicolás Bravo Rueda
Legislature	Congress
- Upper house	Senate
- Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
History
- Independence of Mexico	September 27, 1821
- Agustín I of Mexico	July 21, 1821
- Monarchy overthrown	March 19, 1823
Area	4,925,283 km2 (1,901,662 sq mi)
Currency	Mexican real
Today part of	Belize  Costa Rica  El Salvador  Guatemala  Honduras  Mexico  Nicaragua  United States

The Mexican Empire (Spanish: Imperio Mexicano) was the official name of independent Mexico under a monarchical regime from 1821 to 1823. The territory of the Mexican Empire included the continental intendencies and provinces of New Spain proper (including those of the former Captaincy General of Guatemala). Soon afterward Mexico declared itself a republic, but then reverted to a monarchy during the Second Mexican Empire.

History[link]

Flag of the Mexican Empire Regency (1821-1822)

After the declaration of independence on September 15, 1821, it was the intention of the Mexican parliament to establish a commonwealth whereby the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, would also be Emperor of Mexico, but in which both countries were to be governed by separate laws and with their own legislative offices. Should the king refuse the position, the law provided for a member of the House of Bourbon to accede to the Mexican throne. Ferdinand VII, however, did not recognize the independence and said that Spain would not allow any other European prince to take the throne of Mexico. By request of Parliament, the president of the regency Agustín de Iturbide was proclaimed emperor of Mexico.

The First Mexican Empire was short-lived, lasting only eight months, from July 21, 1822 to March 19, 1823, and was ruled by only one emperor, Agustín de Iturbide, also known as Agustín I of Mexico.

Background[link]

After Napoleon I invaded Spain in 1807 and put his brother, Joseph, on the Spanish throne, Mexican Conservatives and rich land-owners who supported Spain's Bourbon royal family objected to the comparatively liberal Napoleonic policies. Thus an unlikely alliance was formed in Mexico: liberales, or Liberals, who favored a democratic Mexico, and conservadores, or Conservatives, who favored a Mexico ruled by a Bourbon monarch who would restore the status quo ante bellum. These two elements agreed only that Mexico must achieve independence and determine its own destiny.

Taking advantage of the fact that Spain was severely handicapped under the occupation of Napoleon's army, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic criollo priest with progressive ideas, declared Mexico's independence from Spain in the small town of Dolores on September 16, 1810. This act started the long war, the first official document of independence was the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America signed in 1813 by the Congress of Anáhuac. Eventually led to the official recognition of independence from Spain in 1821 and the creation of the First Mexican Empire. As with many early leaders in the movement for Mexican independence, Hidalgo was captured by opposing forces and executed.

Prominent figures in Mexico's war for independence were Father José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, and General Agustín de Iturbide. The war for independence lasted eleven years until the troops of the liberating army entered Mexico City in 1821. Thus, although independence from Spain was first proclaimed in 1810, it was not achieved until 1821, by the Treaty of Córdoba, which was signed on August 24 in Córdoba, Veracruz, by the Spanish viceroy Juan O'Donojú and Agustín de Iturbide, ratifying the Plan of Iguala.

• It was the intention of the Mexican Parliament, when it ratified the Plan of Iguala, to establish a commonwealth, whereby the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII, would also be Emperor of Mexico, but in which both countries were to be governed by separate laws and with their own legislative offices. Should the king refuse the position, the law provided for another member of the House of Bourbon to accede to the Mexican throne. Ferdinand VII, however, did not recognize the independence and said that Spain would not allow any other European prince to take the throne of Mexico.
• Later that year, General Agustín de Iturbide, a Mexican criollo who originally fought for the pro-Spanish royalists but switched his allegiance to the insurgents in the final phases of the war, was elected head of the provisional junta government and of the regency that held the imperial power that Spain once had. On the night of the May 18, 1822, a mass demonstration led by the Regiment of Celaya, which Iturbide had commanded during the war, marched through the streets and demanded that their commander-in-chief accept the throne.

Establishment[link]

History of Mexico
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Pre-Columbian Mexico
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War of Independence
First Empire
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Pastry War
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Mexico Portal v t e

The twenty-four intendences of the First Mexican Empire

On May 19, 1822, the Sovereign Congress named Iturbide emperor. On May 21, 1822, it issued a decree confirming this appointment, which was officially a temporary measure until a European monarch could be found to rule Mexico. Iturbide's official title was "By Divine Providence and the National Congress, First Constitutional Emperor of Mexico" (Spanish: Por la Divina Providencia y por el Congreso de la Nación, Primer Emperador Constitucional de México). His coronation took place on July 21, 1822, in Mexico City. As factions in the Congress began to sharply criticise Iturbide and his policies, the emperor decided on October 31 to dissolve it. This enraged the commander of the garrison at Veracruz, Antonio López de Santa Anna, who himself would be President for several terms, during the Secession of Texas and the disastrous Mexican-American War. Santa Anna and his troops revolted against Iturbide and declared a republic on December 1.

Defeat and abolishment[link]

In December 1822, Generals Antonio López de Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria wrote and signed the Plan of Casa Mata. This was an agreement between these two generals, amongst other Mexican generals, governors, and high-ranking governmental officials, to abolish the monarchy and replace it with a republic. Several insurrections arose in the Mexican provinces beginning in December, but they were all put down by the Imperial Army, except for Santa Anna's forces in Veracruz. This was because Santa Anna had previously made a secret agreement with the General Echávarri, the commander of the Imperial forces. By this agreement, the Plan of Casa Mata was to be proclaimed throughout Mexico on February 1, 1823 and Echávarri was to switch sides. This plan did not recognize the First Mexican Empire and called for the convening of a new Constituent Congress. The insurrectionists sent their proposal to the provincial delegations and requested their adherence to the plan. In the course of just six weeks, the Plan of Casa Mata travelled to such remote places as Texas, and almost all the provinces supported the plan.

When a provincial delegation accepted the Plan de Casa Mata, it withdrew its allegiance to the Imperial government and assumed sovereignty within its province. As a result, Agustín de Iturbide was isolated with little support outside his capital, Mexico City, and a few factions of the Imperial Army. Consequently, he re-installed the Constituent Congress, which he had previously abolished, abdicated the throne, and fled the country on March 19, 1823.

Territory[link]

The first Mexican empire was divided by the following intendences.

See also[link]

• Mexican Empire, an overview of periods of Monarchy in Mexico
• Second Mexican Empire
• Federal Republic of Central America

External links[link]

• Imperial House of Mexico
• Mexican Empire

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into First Mexican Empire . (Discuss) Proposed since May 2012.

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Second Mexican Empire . (Discuss) Proposed since May 2012.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2010)

The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the First Mexican Republic. The latter reverted to the Second Mexican Empire 1864-1867.

First Mexican Empire[link]

Territory of the First Mexican Empire (1821-1823)

The First Mexican Empire lasted eighteen months, from 28 September 1821 to 19 March 1823 and had one emperor, Agustín de Iturbide. Its origins can be traced to Napoleon I of France's conquest of Spain in 1808 and his installation of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain. These events loosened Spain's hold on her American colonies, and the movement for Mexican independence grew stronger.

The Mexican War of Independence began in 1810 and continued until 1821, when rebel troops entered Mexico City after the Treaty of Córdoba was signed, whereby Spain's representative, Juan O'Donojú, recognized Mexico's independence. In that year, General Agustín de Iturbide, a Mexican-born criollo former royalist who had switched his allegiance to the insurgents in the final phases of the war, was elected head of a provisional junta government and of a regency that held the imperial power that the Spanish crown once had. On the night of 18 May 1822, a mass demonstration led by the Regiment of Celaya, which Iturbide had commanded during the war, marched through the streets and demanded that their commander-in-chief accept the throne. The next day the Sovereign Congress named him emperor, and on 21 May issued a decree officially confirming this appointment, which was officially a temporary measure until a European monarch could be found to rule Mexico.

Achievement of arms of the First Mexican Empire

Iturbide's official title was "By Divine Providence and the National Congress, First Constitutional Emperor of Mexico" (Spanish: Por la Divina Providencia y por el Congreso de la Nación, Primer Emperador Constitucional de México). His coronation took place on 21 July 1822, in Mexico City. The territorial area of the Mexican Empire of 1821 was about 5,000,000 square kilometers, ranging from the Oregon–California border at 42nd latitude north, to the boundary with Panama (at that time, part of Colombia). Most of the countries of Central America were part of Mexico—they became a separate federal republic after the Empire collapsed.

As factions in the Congress began to sharply criticise both Iturbide and his policies, the emperor decided on 31 October to dissolve it. This enraged the commander of the garrison at Veracruz, Antonio López de Santa Anna, who with his troops rose up against Iturbide and declared a republic on 1 December. Fearing for his life as the rebellion grew stronger, the emperor ordered the dissolved Congress to reassemble on 4 March 1823. He presented his abdication to it in a night-time session on 19 March. He fled to Italy shortly after. In April 1824 the Congress, having already declared his administration void, declared Iturbide a traitor. When he returned to Mexico in July 1824 he was arrested on arrival in Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas, and executed.

Second Mexican Empire[link]

The neutrality of this section is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved. (August 2009)

Territory of the Second Mexican Empire (1864-1867)

In 1860 Benito Juárez became president of Mexico. Juarez suspended all repayments on foreign debts, with the exception of those owed to the United States. In response, the principal creditors of the United Kingdom, France, and Spain sent a joint expeditionary force which occupied the port of Veracruz in December 1861. Juarez repaid most of the outstanding interest and agreed to honor the debts. Britain and Spain withdrew, their claims having been honoured, but not the French Empire.^{[citation needed]}

Achievement of Arms of the Second Mexican Empire

Napoleon III decided to revive the Mexican monarchy. He wanted to place a fellow emperor on the throne who would promote the interests of France. Prior to 1861 any interference in the affairs of Mexico by any of the European powers would have been viewed as a challenge to the Monroe Doctrine of the United States. However, in 1861, the United States became entangled in the American Civil War and thus was unable to enforce the Doctrine. Encouraged by the Empress Eugenie, who saw herself as the champion of the beleaguered Catholic Church in Mexico, Napoleon III took advantage of the situation.

Many favored the nomination of Archduke Maximilian of Austria as monarch, and so, in May 1864, became the new emperor of Mexico, Maximilian I of Mexico, and with his consort, Carlota of Mexico, landed at Veracruz with the backing of Mexican conservatives, including the Mexican nobility, and France. Belgium — ruled by King Leopold I, Empress Carlota's father — also sent troops to aid the cause in Mexico.

Pretender to the Imperial Throne of Mexico[link]

Since the deposition of Maximilian I of the House of Habsburg as Emperor of Mexico in 1867, there has been a pretender line of accession to the throne through his adopted son, the grandson of Mexico's first emperor, Agustin I. The current Pretender to the throne of Mexico is Maximiliano de Götzen-Itúrbide, born in 1944.^{[citation needed]}

Line of succession to the Imperial Throne of Mexico[link]

Head of the Imperial house of Mexico: Don Maximiliano Gustav Albrecht Richard Agustin de Götzen-Itúrbide, Count of Götzen (b. March 1944)^[1]

See also[link]

• Mexican War of Independence
• Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire
• Mexican Imperial Orders
• Imperial Crown of Mexico
• Emperor of Mexico
• Empire of Brazil

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mexican Empire

Omar Gonzalez

Gonzalez with the Galaxy in August 2010
Personal information
Full name	Omar Gonzalez
Date of birth	(1988-10-11) October 11, 1988 (age 23)
Place of birth	Dallas, Texas, United States
Height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Los Angeles Galaxy
Number	4
Youth career
2001–2006	Dallas Texans
2005	IMG Soccer Academy
2006–2008	Maryland Terrapins
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–	Los Angeles Galaxy	87	(5)
2012	→ 1. FC Nuremberg (loan)	0	(0)
National team‡
2005	United States U17	2	(0)
2007	United States U20	3	(2)
2010–	United States	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 19, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of October 19, 2011

Omar Gonzalez (born October 11, 1988 in Dallas, Texas) is an American soccer player. He currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.

Career[link]

College[link]

Gonzalez played youth soccer for the Dallas Texans Soccer Club, and played college soccer at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he won the 2008 College Cup championship, was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-American First Team and First Team All-ACC, and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007.

Professional[link]

Gonzalez was drafted in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Los Angeles Galaxy. He made his professional debut on March 22, 2009, in Galaxy's first game of the 2009 MLS season against D.C. United,^[1] and scored his first professional goal on April 4, 2009, in a 3-2 loss to Colorado Rapids.^[2] Gonzalez was awarded the MLS Rookie of the Year Award for his performances in the 2009 season.^[3] He was named to the 2010 MLS All Star team. He continued his fine form in the 2011 MLS season, forming the heart of the Galaxy's league-best defense, along with goalkeeper Josh Saunders, and Gonzalez won the MLS Defender of the Year

On January 5, 2012, it was announced that Gonzalez will be loaned to 1. FC Nuremberg of the Bundesliga until mid-February.^[4] During his first training session with his new club, Gonzalez suffered a torn ACL after a collision with national team mate Timothy Chandler. He immediately headed back to the US to undergo surgery.^[5]

International[link]

As a youth, Gonzalez represented the U.S. at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels. In 2005 he played at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Peru, and in 2007 he played for the U.S. Under-20’s at the Pan-American Games, scoring twice in the USA's 4-2 loss to Bolivia.

On December 22, 2009, Gonzalez received his first call-up to train with the senior US national team. On August 10, 2010, he made his international debut in a friendly, starting against Brazil.

However, on October 6, 2011 in an interview with ESPN's U.S. National team soccer blog Gonzalez announces he is still open to playing for Mexico. "Why not?" Gonzalez told U.S. National team soccer blog earlier that week. "Mexico is strong right now, very strong. If something were to come along, I'm definitely going to listen."

Personal[link]

The son of Mexican parents, Gonzalez holds a Mexican passport, and dual citizenship with both the United States and Mexico. Omar attended elementary at Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard, where his mom is a teacher, W. E. Greiner Middle School and Skyline High School in Dallas, TX.^[6]

Honors[link]

Los Angeles Galaxy[link]

• Major League Soccer Supporters' Shield (2): 2010, 2011
• Major League Soccer Western Conference Championship (2): 2009 2011
• MLS Cup: 2011

University of Maryland[link]

• NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1): 2008

Individual[link]

• MLS Rookie of the Year: 2009
• MLS Defender of the Year: 2011
• MLS Best XI of the Year: 2010, 2011

See also[link]

• List of current MLS players

References[link]

External links[link]

• MLS player profile
• Omar Gonzalez at National-Football-Teams.com