With the release of Divided Nation, the American Conquest series has been rounded off nicely, while at the same time Battle for Europe has completed Cossacks 2. When studying the historical background of these two games, it's interesting to note that they have more to do with each other than one might expect. The brutal management of their colonies by the great colonial powers during the Napoleonic era laid the foundation for rebellion. This was the case in Brazil, in Haiti (as discussed in a previous article) and also in Mexico, which this article is about; a broad connection between the time of Divided Nation and the Napoleonic era.
Ferdinand Maximilian, the younger brother of future emperor Franz Joseph, was executed by Mexican soldiers on 19 June 1867 near the Mexican city of Queretaro. My initial question was simple: how had he gotten himself in this situation?

A map of the early Mexico.

Childhood and Personality

Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian von Habsburg-Lothringen was born 6 July 1832 in the Schönbrunn palace in Vienna. He is described as a dull child, but with artistic talent. The young Maximilian loved to draw and write poetry and essays.
Later he enjoys a broad education, studying, amongst other things, law and science.
At the age of 18, Maximilian and his brother Karl Ludwig travel around the Mediterranean to Trieste and on to Greece. This trip influences Maximilian enormously. In March 1851 emperor Franz Joseph takes Maximilian to Trieste once more and introduces him to a number of high ranking navy officers. He soon enters the navy as a lieutenant on a frigate.
By 1853, Maximilian has moved away from Vienna and installed himself in Trieste. More diplomatic travels around the Mediterranean follow. In 1854, Franz Joseph replaces the commander of the navy with his younger brother.
During one of his travels to Brussels, Maximilian meets the 16 year old daughter of the Belgian king Leopold. They get along together very well and on 27 July 1857 they get married in Brussels.
Maximilian continues to work for Vienna and is seen by the local population as a representative of a foreign dominating power. In the wake of the Italian unification and the Crimean War, he is relieved from his duties by the Emperor without warning. He continues serving in the navy and shortly afterwards leaves for a 28 month trip around the world. Finally, he returns to Trieste, where he continues to build Miramare Castle and expand his art collection. In August 1863 Miramare receives the first representatives of the political fractions from Mexico.

President Don Benito Juarez, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg Lothringen - "Emperor" Maximilan of Mexico - and Louis Napoleon (Bonaparte), Emperor "Napoleon III." of France

Mexico's Independence

Mexico had been Spanish property since the 16th century. When a new war broke out between England and Spain (as ally of France), Madrid was starting to run into financial trouble. It was quickly decided to use Mexico's greatest reserve capital, its church assets. Mexico had a successful system in place in which the church could issue long running bonds, mainly to land owners, thereby ensuring a reasonably secure income. But this was about to be drastically changed by the Spanish government. They ordered the land owners to pay back the money to the church, which would then have to give the amount (about 40 million pesos) to the state. In December 1805 this order was enforced. Many land owners could only raise the required money by selling their property, which meant a huge drop in the value of land. All in all, the project raised only about 12 million pesos and destroyed both Mexico's economy and the church's income.
Muttering about separating from Madrid were now being heard. The break up between the Spanish Bourbons and Napoleon in 1808 made this seem possible. The Creole middle class saw their chance. These land and mine owners - descendents from Spanish immigrants, which is what the meaning of "Creole" was then - were ready to let "Madre patria" go. The vice king's palace was stormed by an angry mob, marking the beginning of civil war.
The Creole Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was one of the fighters for independence. Convincing the people he was actually trying the get the "rightful" King Ferdinand VII back to power (a propaganda trick which was sure to work with the heavily catholic population), he called his followers to revolt against the vice king on Sunday 16 September 1810. After a number of skirmishes with the troops of the vice king, Hidalgo was captured and duly executed on 30 July 1811.
Hidalgo's plans were picked up by Jose Maria Morelos, a parish priest. After Hidalgo's death, he led the rebels on in their fight against the vice king. In September 1813 Morelos formed the Congress of Chilpancingo, which declared independence on 6 November. The revolution had left the country in ruins. 700.000 of the population of 7 million had been killed, the economy, agriculture and industry were producing a fraction of the income of before. The new "emperor" of Mexico, General Augustin Iturbide, had great trouble repairing the damage and an officer's coup replaced Iturbide only 11 months after he had started his reign. In 1824 congress decided on a republican constitution.
From this moment on, Mexico came into a state of almost permanent war and civil war. The Spanish unsuccessfully invade again in 1829, a number of coups from the inside are attempted, and in 1838 a small war is even fought with France.
This phase in Mexico's history shows General Santa Anna as a president with almost dictatorial tendencies. During his second term, Pablo Benito Juarez returns to Mexico after having worked in the USA as a factory worker for a number of years, despite his education in law. Having done important government work before leaving for the USA, Juarez becomes minister of Justice and Education. His work is an important factor in establishing people's equal treatment by the law, freedom of choice of work, the right to a minimum wage, freedom of press, and abolishment of the nobility's titles, amongst other things. Meanwhile, Juarez had climbed to become president of the supreme court.
In 1857 General Zuloaga attempts another coup, resulting in a civil war between the supporters of Zuloaga and Juarez, as representative of the old government. Juarez comes out victorious in 1861, thanks in part to support by the USA, and goes on to win the presidential election later that year.
Juarez's biggest problem is Mexico's financial situation. His forerunners had lent a great deal of money from abroad and these debts now proved impossible to pay back. Paris, London and Madrid used this as an excuse to threaten with yet another war. In April 1862 Spain and England decide not to bother and leave only France to keep arguing with Mexico. France demands a new government, loyal to Paris, formed as a monarchist dictatorship. A Habsburg archduke would do fine and so Maximilian is offered Mexico.

Coronation, Rise of an Emperor and Formation of a Government

After some arguing between the different parties (including a very personal warning from Juarez's government), Maximilian is offered the crown. He accepts and the official coronation takes place at Miramare on 10 April 1864. Four days later Maximilian leaves for Mexico, which by now has been occupied by French forces. He arrives in Veracruz on 29 May, having used the long travel time to prepare a number of different things for his governing of Mexico. One of these things is an answer to Juarez in which he offers to work together and promises him a high position in the new government. Juarez declines and is eventually forced to flee towards the Mexico-USA border.
Emperor "Maximiliano" and Empress "Carlota" start an ambitious reform program. Advice is gained from liberal ministers and European advisors, annoying the more conservative politicians. In many ways he continues Juarez's work towards a modern state, in the form of social legislation for the Indians and the legal status of the farmers. Unfortunately, these are exactly the things the conservatives don't agree with, making them even angrier with the new emperor.

Capitulation and Court Martial

In 1866 the French decide to pull their troops back out of Mexico, mainly because of the increased threat of war in Europe. Maximilian's military power falls apart shortly after. Republican troops start a siege of Queretaro, trapping Maximilian. During the night of 14-15 May 1867, the city finally falls after commander Lopez commits treason. He opens the way for the enemy forces, but when he sees republican soldiers confronting Maximilian, he orders them to let these "civilians" pass. Despite this chance to escape, Maximilian attempts to rally his forces in the hills outside the city, but is captured by the republican general Escobedo. Maximilian's Mexican empire has come to an end.
The court martial that followed involved 13 points that Maximilian at first glance thought ridiculous. The main accusation was that he usurped Mexico using the French as a tool. At this moment neither he nor anyone around him seem to understand what danger he is in. Matters do in fact get worse and worse and on 15 June 1867 Maximilian and his two closest commanders, Miramon and Mejia, are found guilty and condemned to death. On 19 June all three are shot on the same hill outside of Queretaro where Maximilian tried to regroup his forces. After a long diplomatic struggle, Maximilian's embalmed body is taken to Vienna, where it is buried on 18 January 1868 in the Imperial Crypt.

Execution of the archduke

Essay (full text available in German) written by Martin Walter. Abstract written by our editor Eric Edelman, edited by Jansen.

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