Miguel Miramón
Encyclopedia
Miguel Gregorio de la Luz Atenógenes Miramón y Tarelo (September 29, 1832. – June 19, 1867) was a Mexican
conservative general. He served as unconstitutional interim conservative president of Mexico (in opposition to the constitutional president, Benito Juárez
of the Liberal Party).
Miramón was born in Mexico City
into a family of French
heritage. At the age of 15 he was made prisoner during the United States
assault on Chapultepec Castle
in the Mexican-American War. In his late teens and early twenties he rose through the army ranks rather quickly, becoming famous for his personal charisma and his competence as a soldier and his guerrilla tactics
.
He was a staunch conservative, a supporter of monarchy, aristocracy and religious privileges for the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supported his military efforts against the constitutional forces with loans.
During the War of Reform he fought in the central lowlands on the side of a reactionary military junta which had staged a coup d'état in defiance of the Constitution of 1857. A series of "presidents" were appointed by this junta as factions within the junta vied for power. Miramon's faction eventually prevailed, and on February 2, 1860 when not yet 30 years old, he assumed the presidency. However, neither he nor any of the other "presidents" of the junta were recognized by the constitutional forces led by President Benito Juárez, nor were they recognized by the United States which instead, appointed an ambassador to Juárez's government.
On April 11, 1859, Miramón earned the enmity of much of the populace for ordering not only the execution of captured officers of the constitutional forces, but also of the doctors who treated their wounds, and also numerous civilians who were deemed to have been too sympathetic with the constitutional armies which had just suffered a defeat in attempting to re-take the capital from the junta now headed by Miramón. As a further result of this massacre, General Degollado of the constitutional army issued an order that officers of the anti-constitutional armies were to be shot upon capture.
Between August 12 and August 15, 1860, he left the presidency to an interim, José Ignacio Pavón
. According to some sources, he also used the Mexico City police to raid the residence of the British
consul (who was actively supporting the liberals) and steal 600,000 pesos to finance a conservative levy. He maintained the hostilities against the liberals until being savagely defeated by the troops of Gen. Jesús González Ortega in San Juan del Río
, Querétaro
, on December 22. Two days later he resigned and fled to Europe
.
, he briefly took part in the negotiations between the Mexican monarchists, Napoleon III
and the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. When he returned to Mexico, the archduke, now crowned as Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, appointed him as Great Marshal of the Imperial Army and sent him to Berlin
to study military tactics. He returned in 1866 and organized the imperial defenses against the republicans.
February 19, 1867 he arrived at Santiago de Querétaro
to repel the siege against the emperor. He took charge of the infantry and sent General Tomás Mejía
to take charge of the cavalry. Almost three months later, the emperor decided to capitulate against the advice of Miramón, who had been seriously wounded in action. On June 19 all three were shot for treason on the order of President Benito Juárez
, the republican leader. The execution took place at the Cerro de las Campanas, in the outskirts of Querétaro.
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...
conservative general. He served as unconstitutional interim conservative president of Mexico (in opposition to the constitutional president, Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
of the Liberal Party).
Miramón was born in 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...
into a family of French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
heritage. At the age of 15 he was made prisoner during the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
assault on Chapultepec Castle
Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
in the Mexican-American War. In his late teens and early twenties he rose through the army ranks rather quickly, becoming famous for his personal charisma and his competence as a soldier and his guerrilla tactics
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
.
He was a staunch conservative, a supporter of monarchy, aristocracy and religious privileges for the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church supported his military efforts against the constitutional forces with loans.
On April 11, 1859, Miramón earned the enmity of much of the populace for ordering not only the execution of captured officers of the constitutional forces, but also of the doctors who treated their wounds, and also numerous civilians who were deemed to have been too sympathetic with the constitutional armies which had just suffered a defeat in attempting to re-take the capital from the junta now headed by Miramón. As a further result of this massacre, General Degollado of the constitutional army issued an order that officers of the anti-constitutional armies were to be shot upon capture.
Between August 12 and August 15, 1860, he left the presidency to an interim, José Ignacio Pavón
José Ignacio Pavón
José Ignacio Pavón was a Mexican lawyer, jurist and politician. From August 13, 1860 to August 15, 1860, he served as unconstitutional interim conservative president of Mexico .Pavón was born in Veracruz, where he began his studies...
. According to some sources, he also used the Mexico City police to raid the residence of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
consul (who was actively supporting the liberals) and steal 600,000 pesos to finance a conservative levy. He maintained the hostilities against the liberals until being savagely defeated by the troops of Gen. Jesús González Ortega in San Juan del Río
San Juan del Río
N20 23 23 W99 59 49San Juan del Río is a city and administrative seat of the surrounding San Juan del Río Municipality in the central Mexican state of Querétaro. The population in July, 2007 is calculated in 128,270 for the city and 217,980 for the municipality.The city and municipality both rank...
, Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
, on December 22. Two days later he resigned and fled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Second Empire
While in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he briefly took part in the negotiations between the Mexican monarchists, Napoleon III
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 the Archduke Maximilian of Austria. When he returned to Mexico, the archduke, now crowned as Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, appointed him as Great Marshal of the Imperial Army and sent him to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
to study military tactics. He returned in 1866 and organized the imperial defenses against the republicans.
February 19, 1867 he arrived at Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro
Santiago de Querétaro is the capital and largest city of the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico. It is located 213 km northwest of Mexico City, 96 km southeast of San Miguel de Allende and 200 km south of San Luis Potosí...
to repel the siege against the emperor. He took charge of the infantry and sent General Tomás Mejía
Tomás Mejía
Tomás Mejía was a Mexican soldier, born in Pinal de Amoles, Sierra Gorda, Querétaro. He fought as a Cavalry General on the side of Maximilian I of Mexico during the war between Monarchists and Republicans following the French intervention in 1862 and rise of the Second Mexican Empire in...
to take charge of the cavalry. Almost three months later, the emperor decided to capitulate against the advice of Miramón, who had been seriously wounded in action. On June 19 all three were shot for treason on the order of President Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
, the republican leader. The execution took place at the Cerro de las Campanas, in the outskirts of Querétaro.
External links
- El Balero: Miguel Miramón
- Guide to the Miramón family papers at The Bancroft Library