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| Colorized photo of Mexican Emperor Maximilian I |
Now this is a Mexican Flag
I was not looking for this, but Google takes us down strange paths.
In this case a search ending up taking me to a YouTube of the national anthem of the Second Mexican Empire.
Compared to most nations Mexico already has a great flag. But as a historian you just gotta love the Imperial Mexican Flag.
French Emperor Napoleon III took advantage of the American Civil War to establish the Empire of Mexico putting Austrian Archduke Maximilian on the throne.
In addition to native born Mexicans joining the new Imperial Army tens of thousands of troops came in from all over Europe and Africa to support Maximilian. French troops came, the Foreign Legion, Austrians, the Belgian Legion, Egyptians, Spanish and more.
In 1865 General Philip Sheridan was dispatched in command of more than 50,000 Union troops along the Rio Grande in Texas as a show of strength to the French, who had invaded Mexico. Sheridan was put in command of the 5th Military District, encompassing Texas and Louisiana.
With hardened American troops of Civil War on the Rio Grande foreign troops began to leave Mexico speeding up the collapse of the Mexican Empire.
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| Flag of the Empire of Mexico (1863-1867) |
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| 4. Fusilier, Foreign legion, at Camarone. 5. Infantryman of the Contra-Guerrillas. 6. Egyptian infantry battalion. Napoleon III and the Austrian Empire drew upon imperial resources from Europe to Africa to provide troops to the new Empire of Mexico. See More . . . . |
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| The "Zephyrs", who was represented in Mexico by the 2nd Battalion of Light Infantry of Africa created 1864 a mounted platoon of 50 men in September, and gave excellent service. The Zouaves had also some mounted some units. In April 1864, the 1st Regiment formed a platoon of "Mounted Zouaves', and there is also mention, a little later, in the same regiment, of a company on mules. The 3rd Regiment also had a company on mules. Read More . . . . |
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| Mexican Imperial Army Read More |
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| Sic Semper Tyrannis In 1867 Maximilian, along with Generals Miramón and Mejía, were executed by a firing squad of soldiers of the Republic. He spoke only in Spanish and gave each of his executioners a gold coin not to shoot him in the head so that his mother could see his face. 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!" Read More . . . . |
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