Preamble to the First Constitution of the Empire: said:
The Mexican Empire, like many other North American countries, began as a Spanish colony. Indeed, they remained until the Mexican Wars of Independence, lasting 11 years from 1810 until the Treaty of Cordoba was signed, officially ending the war.
Treaty of Cordoba said:
Thus was planned the Empire of Mexico, upon which would Ferdinand VII sit as Emperor of Mexico, and not as King of Spain. Mexico and Spain were to share monarchs. Had this happened, a modern day Hispanic Commonwealth, such as the French Commonwealth, might have been seen. However, King Ferdinand did not agree.
As this middle school text book, Our Great History: The Mexican Empire 1821-200, published by Iturbide Educational Prints, Ltd.. shows the perfect explanation of the Spaniard refusal.
Our Great History: The Mexican Empire 1821-200 said:
The Constitution of the Empire (or First Constitution) created a three-part government based on the American model. The Executive would consist of the Emperor, and the Prime Minister & Cabinet. The Congress would be a bicameral legislature with the Senate as the upper house, Senators being selected by the governors, each department would have 2 hereditary peers, then select every 6 years 2 life peers and 2 clergymen to send to the Senate. The Lower House would be the House of Deputies, with each department being assigned deputies based on their population. The Judicial brand would consist of the High Court of the Empire, where the Emperor would personally select 12 judges to be Chief-Justices, who would in turn select the Imperial Grand Jury. This jury, would then in turn elect one of the Chief-Justices to be Supreme-Justice. The Legislature was subject to the Executive and Judicial branches, the Judicial branch being able to override the Executive. Only when 100% of the Legislature and Executive agreed, could a Judicial ruling being overruled.
Proclamation of Ascension said:
A week later, a marriage was proposed and accepted by Congress to Frederick William III of Prussia, for the hand of his daughter Princess Alexandrine. The marriage was preformed by the Pope in Veracruz on May 23, 1822. The Empress took on the more Latin “Alexandra” and became known as the “People’s Empress” for her hard work and dedication on learning the Spanish language, improving Mexican education, and determination to ‘Mexicanize’ herself. Her popularity was improved even more when it was announced she was pregnant weeks after her marriage.
On February 27, 1823 the Empress Alexandra gave birth to a daughter, the Princess Isabella Alexandra Maria Elizabeth Dorothea Amalie, Princess-Imperial of Mexico. 2 weeks later on March 12, the Emperor died and was succeeded by his infant daughter as Isabelle I. Empress Alexandra was made Regent, and after only2 years of existence, the Mexican Empire was on it’s second sovereign and first female one.
The years of the Regency (1823-1841) are now considered the Alexandrian Age. Under her gentle personality and firm rule, the Mexican Empire began to develop economically, financially, and politically. The Poor Acts and Free Acts continued Mexico’s tradition of being against and outlawing slavery. It also allowed poor farmers to exchange their crops for cash, and in turn, prices for every day goods were lowered. The Military also expanded. The Empress-Regent encouraged Prussian Military and Naval officers of her father, King Frederick III, to come and train the fledgling Mexican army and navy into a power to be reckoned with. But upon Isabella’s ascension in her own right, the military was nothing compared to what it would eventually become.
In 1841, Empress Isabella took over the nation in her own right. She continued the policies of her mother, the Empress Alexandra. She also agreed when Congress said she should marry and produce an heir to get it out of the way, but said “In due times, my lord. In due times.” It was soon apparent due times were right around the corner. In the Winter of 1842 when the Empress was 19, Emperor Pedro I (he lived longer, to his full potential) and the Brazilian Delegation came to Celebrate the Holidays with the new Empire. The Emperor, who’s wife had recently died, and the Empress, who’s Congress had been pursuing her to get married, fell in love almost instantly. It was decided by the Treaty of Rio de Janeiro the following summer, that the Emperor and Empress would wed that fall. On September 10, 1843 Empress Isabelle of Mexico married Emperor Pedro of Brazil. His best man was his son, Crown Prince Pedro, who was younger than his new mother by two years.
Pedro and Isabella were considered the Victoria and Albert of the mid-19th century. Though often apart, the couple saw each other every Christmas, whether in Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, or Veracruz. On January 17, 1845, Empress Isabella gave birth to her firstborn, a son whom she named Joseph. Though not heir-apparent to the Brazilian Throne, he was, nonetheless, added to the Brazilian Succession. The Congress bestowed upon the new born baby the title “Grand Duke of Upper California.” On July 28, 1845, the Province of East Tejas declared independence as the “Republic of Texas.” (A change of rulers in Mexico, slowed down American migration to Texas, but it happened anyhow) Isabella’s troops thought the rebellion of American-Texans would be easy. They were wrong.
The first “official” battle of the Texan Revolution, was the Battle of the Rio Grande. Although the Mexicans ended up victorious, it showed that both sides were not fully trained. A further shock to the Mexicans was when the Texan government petitioned the United States for annexation. The US thought about it for a month or two, and decided to annex Texas in October. Thus the United States was forced to declare War on the Mexican Empire. When the US did declare war in November, the Empire of Brazil declared war on the United States. But before Brazilian aid could arrive, Empress Isabella did what any wise monarch would do. On November 3, in New Orleans, Empress Isabella signed the Treaty of New Orleans, granting the Province of East Tejas, and the Department of West Tejas (part of the Province of Coahuila and West Tejas) independence, and approved US annexation of the Republic.
At first, Isabella was scorned for her actions. But when the rebellion level and anti-Mexican members in the parliament, and the burden of the non-Catholic, slave-holding Texans was lifted from the Mexican’s shoulders, it was discovered to be a miracle in disguise.
The years between 1845 and 1865 were successful and prosperous years for the Mexican Empire. The Empress had a total of two more sons and four daughters with Pedro I, all added to Brazilian Succession: Prince Carlos, Prince Ferdinand, Princess Constance, Princess Maria, Princess Christina, and Princess Alexandria. In 1865, the Empress Isabella was hit with a mad depression. Her mother, Empress Alexandra died in May, and her husband Emperor Pedro died in July. She started suffering from depression, gradually relinquishing more and more stately powers to her son, while the Princess-Imperial Constance was responsible for the responsibilities the Empress had as First Lady of the Empire, and Hostess of the Court.
In 1866 Crown Prince Joseph married Princess Margrethe of Savoy. Their first child, Prince Carlos of California, was born the next year. The Second Regency Period between 1865 and 1880 provided further stability for the Empire. Continuing reform acts made life easier for the Mexicans, and more attractive for immigrants, primarily American blacks, (though slavery had been abolished in the 1850's, they were still discriminated), American Indians, Chinese, and Indians (India). These people, along with other Central and South Americans provided for the Upper California Immigrant Rush of 1867, and the California Gold Rush of 1868. Princess-Imperial Constance married Crown Prince Rudolf of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Empress Isabella’s first granddaughter and second grandson (twins) were born months after the marriage, Archduchess Elisabeth Isabelle Alexandra Maria of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Archduke Franz Joseph Rudolph Francis of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1876, with support from Empress Isabella and Crown Prince Joseph, the British colonies in North America united into a federation under the name “Victoria.”
After 15 years of suffering from depression, Empress Isabella was finally at peace. She passed peacefully on March 31, 1880. Her funeral was attended by her uncle Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany and the Prussian Delegation, her step-son Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and the Brazilian Delegation, and her grandfather’s descendants under King Umberto I of Italy and the Italian Delegation. Minor attendances included members of the British and Spanish families, and the American Ambassador and Delegation to Mexico. Her death was met with grief worldwide, as she truly was the Victoria of her day (even though her reign coincided with a part of Victoria’s reign.)
Joseph was formally installed as Emperor of Mexico on September 27, 1880 where he was declared “His Imperial Majesty Joseph the Second, By Divine Providence and the National Congress, Fourth Constitutional Emperor of Mexico.” His son, Prince Carlos, now 14, was declared “Grand Duke of Upper California” at his father’s coronation. Prince Carlos was, at the time, and throughout his entire life, an only child, as his mother, Margrethe (who had adopted a more Mexican, “Margaretta”) had failed at delivering another live or healthy child.
Joseph II’s reign was quickly put to it’s test when the Oregon Conference was held. Spain, on behalf of Mexico, had renounced claims to the territory in the colonial days. However, the Empire could not afford the US to their North. Thus, Emperor Joseph II petitioned Queen Victoria that Mexico be allowed to join the Conference “at least to agree with British claims, lest we not be able to make some of our own.” True, Mexico did not get any land out of the Conference, but a trusting border with Canada was set at Mexico’s north, instead of one with the United Statues.
With permission from Emperor Franz Joseph, Crown Prince Rudolf and Crown Princess Constance (Emperor Joseph II’s sister) were allowed to reside in Mexico for a few years, deciding it might cheer up his poor son. And indeed, it did. A stronger alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire was made in 1890, as part of the celebration of the couples third child, Archduke Franz Joseph. In 1891, Emperor Pedro II died, and was succeeded by his daughter, as Empress Isabel. Half-cousin of Emperor Joseph II.
The year 1894 saw the marriage of Crown Prince Carlos of Mexico to Alana del Lopez, Viscountess Santa Fe, and daughter of Joachim, Duke of Santa Fe. The marriage of the heir to a Mexican woman was widely received, and the population was greatly thankful to their Crown Prince. Between 1895 and 1900, Crown Prince Carlos and Crown Princess Alana had a total of three children: Prince Joseph, Prince Carlos, and Princess Maria Isabella. The years also a large increase in the Imperial Fleet, which had been growing at an average of 10-15 ships a year, while between 1895-1890, over 100 ships were produced and launched.
When Emperor Joseph II died in 1900, he left his son a nation very prosperous, with subjects who proudly boasted of their monarchy. Shortly after Crown Prince Carlos was declared “His Imperial Majesty Carlos the First, By Divine Providence and the National Congress, Fifth Constitutional Emperor of Mexico” his favorite relative and chief confidante, Crown Princess Constance of Austria-Hungary was forced to return to Vienna with her husband and children, when word was sent that Franz Joseph’s health was failing.
And it truly was. Shortly after New Years Day on 1901, Emperor Franz Joseph of the Austro-Hungarian Empire died, and his son and daughter-in-law ascended the throne as “Emperor and King of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, also Empress and Queen.”
Between 1900, and the outbreak of the Great War in 1922, the Mexican economy, as always, was prosperous. War broke out in the United States in 1912, when the New England states decided to secede after the government in Washington refused to establish foreign relations with Canada. (In this time line, the USA is horribly anti-British.) Both Canada and the Mexican Empire aided New England in gaining independence. The war ended in 1919 with the signing of the Treaty of Veracruz, which sets New England’s borders as the New England States, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois Country, forming the Republic of America. With it’s capital in Chicago.
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