Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire
Encyclopedia
The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire
is the foundational document of the empire, and therefore, of the Mexican nation
. The morning after the Army of the Three Guarantees
entered Mexico City
on September 28, 1821, Agustín de Iturbide
ordered the Supreme Provisional Governmental Junta (September 1821-February 1822) to meet to elect a president of the Imperial Regency and to issue a declaration of independence for the new nation. Iturbide was elected president of the Regency, and that afternoon the members of the Regency and the Supreme Junta signed the Declaration.
The Mexican Nation, which for three hundred years had neither had its own will, nor free use of its voice, leaves today the oppression in which it has lived.
The heroic efforts of its sons have been crowned today, and consummated is an eternal and memorable enterprise, which a spirit superior to all admiration and praise, out of love and for the glory of its Country started in Iguala, continued, and brought to fruition, overcoming almost insurmountable obstacles.
Restored then this part of the North to the exercise of all the rights given by the Author of Nature and recognized as unalienable and sacred by the civilized nations of the Earth, in liberty to constitute itself in the manner which best suits its happiness and through representatives who can manifest its will and plans, it begins to make use of such precious gifts and solemnly declares by means of the Supreme Junta of the Empire that it is a Sovereign nation and independent of old Spain with which henceforth it will maintain no other union besides a close friendship in the terms prescribed by the treaties; that it will establish friendly relationships with other powers, executing regarding them whatever declarations the other sovereign nations can execute; that it will constitute itself in accordance to the bases which in the Plan of Iguala
and the Treaty of Córdoba
the First Chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees wisely established and which it will uphold at all costs and with all sacrifice of the means and lives of its members (if necessary); this solemn declaration, is made in the capital of the Empire on the twenty-eighth of September of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, first of Mexican Independence.
First Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire 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...
is the foundational document of the empire, and therefore, of the Mexican nation
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The morning after the Army of the Three Guarantees
Army of the Three Guarantees
At the end of the Mexican War of Independence, the Army of the Three Guarantees was the name given to the army after the unification of the Spanish troops led by Agustín de Iturbide and the Mexican insurgent troops of Vicente Guerrero, consolidating Mexico's independence from Spain...
entered Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
on September 28, 1821, Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
ordered the Supreme Provisional Governmental Junta (September 1821-February 1822) to meet to elect a president of the Imperial Regency and to issue a declaration of independence for the new nation. Iturbide was elected president of the Regency, and that afternoon the members of the Regency and the Supreme Junta signed the Declaration.
Declaration of the Independence of Mexican Empire
Text of the Declaration
Declaration of the independence of the Mexican Empire, issued by its Sovereign Junta, assembled in the Capital on September 28, 1821.The Mexican Nation, which for three hundred years had neither had its own will, nor free use of its voice, leaves today the oppression in which it has lived.
The heroic efforts of its sons have been crowned today, and consummated is an eternal and memorable enterprise, which a spirit superior to all admiration and praise, out of love and for the glory of its Country started in Iguala, continued, and brought to fruition, overcoming almost insurmountable obstacles.
Restored then this part of the North to the exercise of all the rights given by the Author of Nature and recognized as unalienable and sacred by the civilized nations of the Earth, in liberty to constitute itself in the manner which best suits its happiness and through representatives who can manifest its will and plans, it begins to make use of such precious gifts and solemnly declares by means of the Supreme Junta of the Empire that it is a Sovereign nation and independent of old Spain with which henceforth it will maintain no other union besides a close friendship in the terms prescribed by the treaties; that it will establish friendly relationships with other powers, executing regarding them whatever declarations the other sovereign nations can execute; that it will constitute itself in accordance to the bases which in the Plan of Iguala
Plan of Iguala
Plan of Iguala, also known as Plan of the Three Guarantees , was a peace treaty proclaimed on February 24, 1821, in the final stage of Mexican War of Independence from Spain. The plan attempted to establish a constitutional foundation upon which an independent Mexican Empire would be based...
and the Treaty of Córdoba
Treaty of Córdoba
The Treaty of Córdova established Mexican independence from Spain at the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence. It was signed on August 24, 1821 in Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico. The signatories were the head of the Army of the Three Guarantees, Agustín de Iturbide, and acting on behalf of the...
the First Chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees wisely established and which it will uphold at all costs and with all sacrifice of the means and lives of its members (if necessary); this solemn declaration, is made in the capital of the Empire on the twenty-eighth of September of the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, first of Mexican Independence.
Members of the Supreme Provisional Governmental Junta
- Antonio Joaquín Pérez Martínez, bishop of Puebla de los Ángeles.
- Juan O'DonojúJuan O'DonojúJuan O'Donojú y O'Rian was a Spanish military officer and jefe político superior of New Spain from July 21, 1821 to September 28, 1821, during Mexico's war of independence...
, lieutenant general of the Spanish armies, Great Cross of the Orders of Charles III y San Hermenegildo. - José Mariano de Almanza, counsel of State.
- Manuel de la Bárcena, archdeaconArchdeaconAn archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of the Holy Cathedral Church of ValladolidCathedral of ValladolidThe Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Assumption , better known as Valladolid Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Valladolid, Spain...
and governor of said bishopric. - Matías Monteagudo, rectorRectorThe word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the National University, canonCanon (priest)A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the Holy Metropolitan Church of MexicoMexico City Metropolitan CathedralThe Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary of Mexico City is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la...
and presbyterPresbyterPresbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos...
of the Oratory of Saint Philip NeriOratory of Saint Philip NeriThe Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians...
. - José Isidro Yáñez, oidorOidorOidor is the Spanish name of the member judge of the Royal Audiencias and Chancillerías, originally courts of Kingdom of Castile, which became the highest organs of justice within the Spanish Empire...
of the Audiencia of MexicoReal Audiencia of MexicoThe Royal Audience of Mexico was the highest tribunal of the Spanish crown in the Kingdom of New Spain or the Kingdom of Mexico...
. - Juan Francisco Azcárate y Lezama, lawyer before the Audiencia of Mexico and Second SyndicSyndicSyndic , a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.The meaning which underlies both applications is that of...
of the Constitutional AyuntamientoCabildo (council)For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...
. - Juan José Espinosa de los Monteros, lawyer before the Audiencia of Mexico and civil prosecutor.
- José María Fagoaga, honorary oidor of the Audiencia of Mexico.
- Miguel Guridi y Alcocer, parish priest of the Holy Church of the Tabernacle of Mexico City.
- Francisco Severo Maldonado, former parish priest of MascotaMascotaMascota is a town and municipality, in Jalisco in central-western Mexico. The municipality covers an area of 1,591.63 km².As of 2005, the municipality had a total population of 14,045....
and JalostotitlánJalostotitlánThe municipality of Jalostotitlán and its municipal seat of the same name are located in the Los Altos region of the Mexican state of Jalisco.The municipality shares its border on the north with the municipaly of Teocaltiche, the east with the municipality of San Juan de los Lagos, to the south...
in the Bishopric of Guadalajara. - Miguel Cervantes y Velasco, Marqués de Salvatierra and Armory Knight of Ronda.
- Manuel de Heras Soto, Conde de Casa de Heras, lieutenant colonel.
- Juan Lobo, merchant and former regidorRegidorA Regidor is a member of a council of municipalities in Spain and Latin America. Portugal also used to have the same office of Regedor.-Mexico:...
of the City of VeracruzVeracruz, VeracruzVeracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
. - Francisco Manuel Sánchez de Tagle, regidor of the Ayuntamiento and secretary of the Academy of San CarlosAcademy of San CarlosThe Academy of San Carlos is located at 22 Academia Street in just northeast of the main plaza of Mexico City. It was the first major art academy and the first art museum in the Americas. It was founded in 1781 as the School of Engraving and moved to the Academia Street location about 10 years later...
. - Antonio Gama, lawyer before the Audiencia and major collegiateCollegiate churchIn Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons; a non-monastic, or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a dean or provost...
of Santa María de Todos los Santos of Mexico City. - José Manuel Sartorio, bachelorBachelor's degreeA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
presbyter cleric of the Archbishopric. - Manuel Velázquez de León, former secretary of the viceroyalty, honorary intendant of the province and treasurer of bullsPapal bullA Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
, named in Spain as director of the Public Treasury of Mexico and counsel of State. - Manuel Montes Argüelles, hacendadoHaciendaHacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
of Orizaba. - Manuel Sotarriva, brigadier of the national armies, colonel of the infantry regiment of the Crown and Knight of the Order of San Hermenegildo.
- José Mariano Sandaneta, Marqués de San Juan de Rayas, Knight of the Order of Charles III and member of the Censory Board of the Freedom of the Press.
- Ignacio García Illueca, lawyer before the Audiencia of Mexico, retired sergeant major and substitute in the provincial deputationLocal governmentLocal government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
. - José Domingo Rus, oidor of the Audiencia of GuadalajaraReal Audiencia of GuadalajaraThe Real Audiencia of Guadalajara was the highest tribunal of the Spanish crown in what is today northern Mexico and the southwestern United States in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was created by royal decree on February 13, 1548, and was originally located in Compostela and permanently seated...
, native of VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. - José María BustamanteJosé María BustamanteJosé María Bustamante was a Mexican composer.Bustamante worked at various churches in Mexico City as a chapel master, his last posting being at the Metropolitan Cathedral. Active in the Mexican independence movement, he taught at the first conservatory in Latin America, which was founded in...
, retired lieutenant colonel. - José María Cervantes y Velasco, retired colonel, former Conde de Santiago Calimaya, title which he granted to his son, José Juan Cervantes, because it was incompatible with other majoratMajoratMajorat is the right of succession to property according to age . A majorat would be inherited by the oldest son, or if there was no son, the nearest relative. This law existed in some of the European countries and was designed to prevent the distribution of wealthy estates between many members of...
s. - Juan María Cervantes y Padilla, retired colonel, uncle of José María Cervantes y Velasco.
- José Manuel Velázquez de la Cadena, retired captain, lord of the Villa de Yecla, Spain, and regidor of the Ayuntamiento of Mexico City.
- Juan Horbegoso, colonel of the national armies.
- Nicolás Campero, retired lieutenant colonel.
- Pedro José Romero de Terreros, Conde de Jala y Regla, Marqués de San Cristóbal y de Villa Hermosa de Alfaro, gentil hombre de cámara con entrada y capitán de albarderos de la guardia del Virrey.
- José María Echevers Valdivieso Vidal de Lorca, Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo y Santa Olaya.
- Manuel Martínez Mancilla, oidor of the Audiencia of Mexico.
- Juan B. Raz y Guzmán, lawyer before and prosecutor of the Audiencia of Mexico.
- José María Jáuregui, lawyer before the Audiencia of Mexico.
- Rafael Suárez Pereda, lawyer before the Audiencia of Mexico and juez de letrasJustice of the PeaceA justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. - Anastasio Bustamante, colonel of the Army of Dragoons of San Luis.
- Ignacio Icaza, former JesuitSociety of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
. - Manuel Sánchez Enciso.
Members of the Regency of the Empire
- Agustín de Iturbide, First regent.
- Juan O'Donojú, Second regent.
- Manuel de la Bárcena, Third regent.
- José Isidro Yañez, Fourth regent.
- Manuel Velásquez de León, Fifth regent.
External links
- México in documents Photograph of the original Act of Independence of the Mexican Empire of the Nation's General Archive
- Acta de Independencia del Imperio mexicano. 500 años de México en documentos. Consulted on 4 November 2009.