DBWI: Mexican Empire collapsed?

After taking a tour of the Imperial Palace in Mexico City the other day, and naturally getting a picture of me standing in front of the statue of Emperor Agustin I, I was looking in one of the local magazines, which had an article on a new book that was just published and is causing a bit of a stir.

Its an alternative history novel based on the early years of the Mexican state, and seems to detail the fall of the Mexican Empire. It's unsurprisingly bothering some of the hard core monarchists, though most people seem to be taking issue more with how things go for Mexico in the book after the Monarchy is gone more than it not being possible.

What are folks here's thoughts? I personally don't know if Mexico would have had some of the problems in its first decade that the book suggests, but then again history can be weird.
 
Annas Union as the first book is called, a play on the title "Prince of the Union" is the first in a series called "Blood under the Sun"

Well the first half of the book revolves around how Ferdinand becoming King of Spain limits recognition of Mexico and mexicos financial ties, then Agustins planned 40% tax on the rich is what results in a war of sorts between Santa Anna and Agustin, which Anna wins and a republic is born. The second half goes onto show Santa Annas life and the decline of Mexico
Note the first half of the book is similar to an earlier althistroy novel "Statement of Some of the Principal Events in the Public Life of Agustín de Iturbide" wrote some 15 years ago, an unkown but good read

Personally I find this realistic.
However we all know that in OTL Agustins Mexico gained the recognition due to Imperial realpolitics (pretty much a British puppet) which meant its finances were good and the tax on the rich was cancelled allowing a loyal base to spread from the Conservative and Clergy circles into a more prosperous stable faction. Eventually as Mexico became stable the British (puppetism) influence wore off and Mexico became far more independent.
 
Last edited:
Annas Union as the first book is called, a play on the title "Prince of the Union" is the first in a series called "Blood under the Sun"

Well the first half of the book revolves around how Ferdinand becoming King of Spain limits recognition of Mexico and mexicos financial ties, then Agustins planned 40% tax on the rich is what results in a war of sorts between Santa Anna and Agustin, which Anna wins and a republic is born. The second half goes onto show Santa Annas life and the decline of Mexico
Note the first half of the book is similar to an earlier althistroy novel "Statement of Some of the Principal Events in the Public Life of Agustín de Iturbide" wrote some 15 years ago, an unkown but good read

Personally I find this realistic.

I still question if the Empire would have fallen as fast as it did, but perhaps I am simply forgetting how much help the British support provided.

However we all know that in OTL Agustins Mexico gained the recognition due to Imperial realpolitics (pretty much a British puppet) which meant its finances were good and the tax on the rich was cancelled allowing a loyal base to spread from the Conservative and Clergy circles into a more prosperous stable faction. Eventually as Mexico became stable the British (puppetism) influence wore off and Mexico became far more independent.

Mexico's ties with Britain did bring it some problems though...I've heard some American historians suggest that the disputes over the Oregon Country wouldn't have been as hot and tense as they were, since Mexico was also laying claim to part of it while supporting the rest of what Britain claimed.

I do hope the rest of the book series isn't too bad. I know some American alt-history authors like to do Mexi-screws for the fun of it, and there's plenty of those, so we certainly don't need a Mexican author jumping in as well.
 
What about the skirmishes with the United States; no doubt some sort of major conflict could break out here without the strong stability of the monarchy in this timeline, especially around the period of that attempted "Texan" rebellion. Without the strong centralisation in Mexico City, could the US somehow attack the Empire in it's weakened "republican" state, and take the territory that all those "manifest destiny" types were clamouring for during the 1840's?
 
I don't see how it would be possible. The Empire was already a compromise between pretty much everyone - a catholic monarchy, that despite everything, was constititutional in 1821, with liberals (including former rebels such as Guerrero) being allowed in the parliament and government.

Anyway, from what I found in Google, in this alt-history, without anything to balance the United States they became the dominant power in the continent and then the world. An American world is one I wouldn't want to live in.
 
Yes, no alliance with the Empire of Japan.

That reminds me that there's supposed to be some wedding linking the two royal lines next week. Not the immediate succesors though.

I don't see how it would be possible. The Empire was already a compromise between pretty much everyone - a catholic monarchy, that despite everything, was constititutional in 1821, with liberals (including former rebels such as Guerrero) being allowed in the parliament and government.

Anyway, from what I found in Google, in this alt-history, without anything to balance the United States they became the dominant power in the continent and then the world. An American world is one I wouldn't want to live in.

Having another major competitor right next door did force the United States to reconsider some of its policies certainly, though I sometimes wish the Empire wouldn't meddle in the affairs of Central America so much.
 
That reminds me that there's supposed to be some wedding linking the two royal lines next week. Not the immediate succesors though.

Speaking of weddings no Mexican Empire would make my life a lot more difficult.

My fiancee is Mexican and Catholic, which could have been very difficult if the ties between the UK and Mexico weren't so good. The recent changes in legislation make it SOOO much easier to get a visa for a Mexican foreign national to get married here than previously. I know the right wingers have been up in arms about 'Mexican Brides' but that is all nonsense frankly. You still need to prove you've met the person and you know each either, its just less paper work and solicitor fees that I am very grateful for.

I doubt Catholic tolerance would be as good as it is today here in the UK.
 
Speaking of weddings no Mexican Empire would make my life a lot more difficult.

My fiancee is Mexican and Catholic, which could have been very difficult if the ties between the UK and Mexico weren't so good. The recent changes in legislation make it SOOO much easier to get a visa for a Mexican foreign national to get married here than previously. I know the right wingers have been up in arms about 'Mexican Brides' but that is all nonsense frankly. You still need to prove you've met the person and you know each either, its just less paper work and solicitor fees that I am very grateful for.

I doubt Catholic tolerance would be as good as it is today here in the UK.

I've heard some studies stating that the UK actually see's more tourism and immigration, to and from, Mexico than the neighboring USA does with the Empire.

And the influence of Mexican catholics no doubt played a part with British relations with Brazil. Though the Empire's existence didn't do much to help the Brazilian Monarchy.

I was just reading a review of someone who read it who mentioned something rather interesting-Without the Mexican Empire, support for Constitutional Monarchies might not be as high as it is in OTL.
 
Top