Background
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu was born on September 27, 1783, in what was called Valladolid, now Morelia, the state capital of Michoacán, the scion of a wealthy, staunchly Catholic, aristocratic family of Basque descent.
(Manifiesto del General D. Agustin de Iturbide por Agusti...)
Manifiesto del General D. Agustin de Iturbide por Agustin de Iturbide ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windham Press is committed to bringing the lost cultural heritage of ages past into the 21st century through high-quality reproductions of original, classic printed works at affordable prices. This book has been carefully crafted to utilize the original images of antique books rather than error-prone OCR text. This also preserves the work of the original typesetters of these classics, unknown craftsmen who laid out the text, often by hand, of each and every page you will read. Their subtle art involving judgment and interaction with the text is in many ways superior and more human than the mechanical methods utilized today, and gave each book a unique, hand-crafted feel in its text that connected the reader organically to the art of bindery and book-making. We think these benefits are worth the occasional imperfection resulting from the age of these books at the time of scanning, and their vintage feel provides a connection to the past that goes beyond the mere words of the text.
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Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu was born on September 27, 1783, in what was called Valladolid, now Morelia, the state capital of Michoacán, the scion of a wealthy, staunchly Catholic, aristocratic family of Basque descent.
Agustín de Iturbide received his education at the seminary in Valladolid and devoted his youth to managing one of his father's estates.
In his teens, Iturbide entered the royalist army, having been accepted as a criollo.
Later Agustín de Iturbide was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the provincial regiment. In 1806, he was promoted to full lieutenant.
Iturbide received a commission in the royal militia and quickly gained fame for his daring actions during the campaigns against the liberal revolutionaries. Employing imaginative stratagems and stern measures, he acquired a reputation for bravery and harshness, earning several promotions. By 1813 he held the rank of colonel, commanding the Celaya regiment in addition to serving as military commandant of the intendancy of Guanajuato. Two years later he was placed in charge of the Army of the North, whose jurisdiction encompassed the intendancies of Valladolid and Guanajuato.
Iturbide was among the young Creole aristocrats who began to contemplate the possibility of separation from Spain in response to an 1820 military revolt which placed Spain under a liberal regime. Iturbide was then commanding royal forces pursuing Vicente Guerrero, one of the few liberal revolutionaries still in the field. The two entered into negotiations, and Guerrero pledged his support to his former adversary.
On February 24, 1821, Iturbide launched his own revolt by issuing the Plan of Iguala, also known as the Triguarantine Plan. His 23-article statement spelled out a conservative program based on three guarantees: religion, independence, and union. These terms indicated that Iturbide was dedicated to preserving the colonial system, merely substituting Creoles for Spaniards in governmental posts. He aspired to constitute Mexico into an independent monarchy, headed by a Bourbon prince, while preserving class and Church privileges.
Much of the Creole populace rallied to Iturbide's support. When Capt. Gen. Juan O'Donojú arrived to assume his duties as the new Spanish viceroy in Mexico a few months later, he found Iturbide in effective control of the country. Lacking sufficient forces to challenge the Mexican leader's ascendancy, the viceroy proposed negotiations. The resulting Treaty of Cordova confirmed Mexican independence under a Bourbon prince and stipulated that, pending selection of a monarch, Mexico would be governed by a junta headed by Iturbide and including O'Donojú in its membership. Iturbide, the "Liberator, " rode triumphantly into Mexico City at the head of his army on his thirty-eighth birthday, September 27, 1821.
When members of the Spanish royal family spurned the proffered Mexican throne, Creole sentiment turned toward investing Iturbide with the honor. On May 18, 1822, a sergeant in Iturbide's own Celaya regiment launched a "popular" movement to proclaim Iturbide emperor. The Liberator exhibited a proper degree of reluctance, but the next day Congress, with tumultuous crowds of Iturbide's adherents jamming the hall, formally selected him as emperor. Lack of a quorum cast doubt upon the legality of this mandate, but the action had considerable popular support.
Iturbide was crowned Emperor Agustín I on July 21, 1822, amid elaborate pageantry. The new monarch presented an imposing figure in his regal robes. At 5 feet 10 inches, he was taller than his Mexican contemporaries, and his erect, military bearing and aloof, aristocratic manner added to the aura of imperial splendor.
Iturbide devoted considerable effort to creating an elaborate court, attempting to match the magnificence and pomp of European royalty. He also endeavored to secure the traditional prerogatives of the Spanish crown, attempting to assert his right to appoint Church officials as well as civil administrators. Also, even prior to assuming the imperial title, he had initiated preparations for extending Mexican sovereignty southward, and in December 1821 he had dispatched an army to Central America in a futile attempt at annexation.
Iturbide proved to be a tactless ruler, and his regime was characterized by constant disputes with the legislature, which challenged his efforts to concentrate power in his own hands. After imprisoning several of the deputies, the Emperor dissolved Congress on October 31, 1822. Iturbide had already forfeited much of his initial popularity, and a rebellion soon broke out.
On March 19, 1823, Iturbide abdicated and shortly thereafter departed for Europe, where he became alarmed at reports of an impending Spanish expedition against Mexico. Convinced that only he could save his homeland, he offered to "place his sword" at the nation's disposal. Interpreting this as an attempt to regain power, the Mexican Congress declared him a traitor and sentenced him to death. Iturbide sailed for Mexico before learning of this decree and was arrested upon landing at Soto la Marina in the province of Tamaulipas. On July 19, 1824, the Liberator of Mexico, thoroughly discredited by his actions while occupying the throne, was executed by a firing squad.
(Manifiesto del General D. Agustin de Iturbide por Agusti...)
On February 27, 1805, the 22-year-old Agustin de Iturbide married Ana Maria. Ana Maria arrived in the Cathedral of Valladolid dressed as an Austrian princess, filled with white lace and fringed combs. Their wedding was a great social event, as women wore their best jewels and sumptuous dresses, while men were dressed in strict formal attire. Ana María provided a dowry of one hundred thousand pesos, with which the couple bought a hacienda in the town of Maravatío.
Together they had 10 children:Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide y Huarte, Sabina de Iturbide y Huarte, Juana de Iturbide y Huarte, Josefa de Iturbide y Huarte, Ángel de Iturbide y Huarte, María de Iturbide y Huarte, Dolores de Iturbide y Huarte, Salvador de Iturbide y Huarte, Felipe de Iturbide y Huarte, Agustín Cosme de Iturbide y Huarte.
José Joaquín de Iturbide y Arreguí came from a family of the Basque gentry who were confirmed in nobility by King Juan II of Aragon.
María Josefa de Arámburu y Carrillo de Figueroa was of pure Spanish blood born in Mexico, and therefore, a criolla.
Ana María Josefa Ramona de Huarte y Muñiz was the daughter of wealthy and powerful noble Isidro de Huarte, governor of the district, and the granddaughter of the Marquis of Altamira.
