House of Habsburg-Iturbide
Encyclopedia
The House of Habsburg-Itúrbide is the second royal house after the House of Itúrbide
In 1822 when the newly independent Mexican congress confirmed the title of Agustín I, Constitutional Emperor of Mexico on Agustín de Itúrbide
, a Mexican general. After the demise of the First Mexican Empire
less than a year later, Mexico became a republic. However, in the 1860s Mexico's monarchy was revived during the Second Mexican Empire
, under Maximilian I of Mexico
of the House of Habsburg. Maximilian I formally adopted two of Agustín I's grandsons, thus the name Habsburg-Iturbide.
In 1859, Ferdinand Maximilian was first approached by Mexican monarchists — members of the Mexican nobility
, led by local nobleman José Pablo Martínez del Río
— with a proposal to become the Emperor
of Mexico
. He did not accept at first, but sought to satisfy his restless desire for adventure with a botanical expedition to the tropical forests
of Brazil
. However, after the French intervention in Mexico
, under pressure from Napoleon III and after General Élie-Frédéric Forey's capture of Mexico City
and the plebiscite which confirmed his proclamation of the empire, he consented to accept the crown in 1863. His decision involved the loss of all his nobility rights in Austria, though he was not informed of this until just before he left. Archduchess Charlotte was thereafter known as "Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carlota". He was widely known as Archduke Ferdinand Max.
In the 1860s, Mexico's monarchy was revived during the Second Mexican Empire
. With the help of Napoleon III of France
and conservative Mexicans, Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand of Austria, was given the throne of Mexico and the title of emperor, as Maximilian I of Mexico
. He and his consort Charlotte of Belgium
had no children of their own and adopted two grandsons of Agustin I, Salvador de Iturbide and Agustín de Iturbide
, to be raised as heirs until they conceived a child of their own. They never did. The House of Habsburg-Iturbide holds no recognition from the Mexican government, nor does it serve in protocolary events.
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Last held by:
House of Itúrbide
House of Iturbide
The House of Iturbide is the former Imperial House of Mexico. It was founded by Agustín de Iturbide in 1822 when the newly independent Mexican congress confirmed his title of Agustín I, Constitutional Emperor of Mexico...
In 1822 when the newly independent Mexican congress confirmed the title of Agustín I, Constitutional Emperor of Mexico on Agustín de Itúrbide
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...
, a Mexican general. After the demise of the First Mexican Empire
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...
less than a year later, Mexico became a republic. However, in the 1860s Mexico's monarchy was revived during the Second Mexican Empire
Second Mexican Empire
The Second Mexican Empire was the name of Mexico under the regime established from 1864 to 1867. It was created by Napoleon III of France, who attempted to use the Mexican adventure to recapture some of the grandeur of earlier Napoleonic times...
, under Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
of the House of Habsburg. Maximilian I formally adopted two of Agustín I's grandsons, thus the name Habsburg-Iturbide.
In 1859, Ferdinand Maximilian was first approached by Mexican monarchists — members of the Mexican nobility
Mexican nobility
Mexican nobility refers to the titled nobles and untitled gentry families of Mexico. Most of the descendants of these families still live in Mexico today, but some can be found in Europe and other countries....
, led by local nobleman José Pablo Martínez del Río
Martinez del Rio
-The Martinez del Rio Family:The Martinez del Rio family is one of the leading patrician families, prominent in entrepreneurship and cultural circles. The family has helped to shape Mexico's politics, economy and society from the time of Mexican independence from Spain, until the present day...
— with a proposal to become the Emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of Mexico
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...
. He did not accept at first, but sought to satisfy his restless desire for adventure with a botanical expedition to the tropical forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. However, after the French intervention in Mexico
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
, under pressure from Napoleon III and after General Élie-Frédéric Forey's capture of 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...
and the plebiscite which confirmed his proclamation of the empire, he consented to accept the crown in 1863. His decision involved the loss of all his nobility rights in Austria, though he was not informed of this until just before he left. Archduchess Charlotte was thereafter known as "Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carlota". He was widely known as Archduke Ferdinand Max.
In the 1860s, Mexico's monarchy was revived during the Second Mexican Empire
Second Mexican Empire
The Second Mexican Empire was the name of Mexico under the regime established from 1864 to 1867. It was created by Napoleon III of France, who attempted to use the Mexican adventure to recapture some of the grandeur of earlier Napoleonic times...
. With the help of Napoleon III of France
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
and conservative Mexicans, Archduke Maximilian Ferdinand of Austria, was given the throne of Mexico and the title of emperor, as Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
. He and his consort Charlotte of Belgium
Charlotte of Belgium
Charlotte of Belgium is remembered today as Carlota of Mexico as empress consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico, ex-Archduke of Austria.-Princess of Belgium:The only daughter of Leopold I, King of the Belgians by his second wife,...
had no children of their own and adopted two grandsons of Agustin I, Salvador de Iturbide and Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide y Green
Don Agustín de Iturbide y Green, Prince of Iturbide was the grandson of Agustín de Iturbide, the first emperor of independent Mexico, and his consort Empress Ana María...
, to be raised as heirs until they conceived a child of their own. They never did. The House of Habsburg-Iturbide holds no recognition from the Mexican government, nor does it serve in protocolary events.
External links
- Imperial House site
- The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire, a novel based on the true story by C.M. Mayo
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Last held by:
House of Itúrbide
House of Iturbide
The House of Iturbide is the former Imperial House of Mexico. It was founded by Agustín de Iturbide in 1822 when the newly independent Mexican congress confirmed his title of Agustín I, Constitutional Emperor of Mexico...