Update!
Here is the rest of Mexican Independence. To be followed by some development in the US and Europe soon.
The Turning Point
Morelos’ victory over Valladolid is generally considered the turning point of the war. However certain crucial developments across New Spain (and for that matter the world) throughout the following year helped transform the former Spanish viceroyalty in to the Mexican Empire.
José Mariano Michelena [1] surrendered Valladolid to Morelos on the February 24 1811. After the governor’s arrest Agustin de Iturbide a lieutenant in the loyalist army approached Morelos offering his men and support in favor of the insurgency. Morelos was skeptical of Iturbide’s motives but allowed Iturbide to prove his himself. Enjoying a certain level of popularity within the army Iturbide was able to bring a large number men form the royalist army into the insurgency. In an efficient campaign Iturbide led the new arrivals into coastal Mexico capturing Chilpanzingo before summers end and cutting off Acapulco’s connection to Mexico City. The port fell shortly afterwards with little resistance.
That same summer Supreme Comander, Jose de Iturrigaray, defeated the loyalist garrison in Guanajuato. His army chased governor Francisco Javier Venegas and his men to San Luis Potosi and later to Saltillo where the royalist forces under Elizondo managed to cut them off. Iturigaray retreated but with Guanajuato under his control the insurgency now controlled all of central New Spain minus the core between Mexico City and Veracruz. Furthermore the number of loyalist defecting to the insurgency increased exponentially.
The Second Congress of Anahuac
The Second Congress of Anahuac was held in October 14th 1811 in Valladolid [2]. The congress was held as a means to reorganize the government of New Spain and layout a constitutional foundation upon which an independent nation will be based. Just like in the first congress the participants seemed to disagree upon most topics. But with the increased number of recently ex-loyalist now serving the insurgency under Iturbide (and other similar like him) the number in favor of a monarchical government. Wilkinson’s treason and the American intervention in Tejas placed a great mistrust to a republican form of government.
The final draft of the Plan de Valladolid reassured all points agreed in The Solemn Declaration of Independence for the Americas and furthered laid out the structure on which the new nation will be governed. The document included the following points:
1. The new nation was to become a Constitutional Monarchy.
– The crown was to be offered to a Spanish prince. If the offer was refused by six members of the Spanish dynasty consecutively. Congress was to elect new candidates.
– In the interim executive power was to be held by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. [3]
2. Division of power will exist between the crown and congress.
3. The new nation was to be the inheritor of New Spain and all lands under the viceroyalty.
– The nation was to be conformed of 23 provinces and 3 territories. [4]
– The territories outside the mainland (The Philippines and Cuba) where to be freed when possible.
– New provinces will be formed as the population’s needs require.
It was Morelos who pushed for the promotion of patriotism during the congress, urging the members to develop national symbols to increase unity. Up to this point the insurgents referred to the new nation as “the Americas” or “New Spain”. For a while the name Anahuac was used but it never gave popularity.
While the name Mexico was not favored amongst those with federalist inclination the name established a link between the ancient Mexica Empire of the Aztecs and the new nation. After some debating congress settled on naming the new nation the Mexican Empire. A new flag was also designed; it was to be a vertical tricolor of crimson, blue, and green symbolizing independence, faith, and equality with the Imperial Eagle in the center. Velazquez designed a naval flag based on the tricolour but without the eagle during the capture of Veracruz and his fail attempt of bringing Cuba into the Empire ten years later.
A smaller document signed between Phillip Nolan (one of Burr’s men) and Iturrigaray guaranteed land grants in the northern territories to the Americans who fought in favor of Mexico against Spain and the United States. This promise will later result in many American’s joining Burr and giving Burr a special status in the government of Tejas once the official constitution is drafted.
Dawn of an Empire
With newly revived vigor the insurgent army marched towards Mexico City in the following spring. In royalist forces under Colonel Trucuato Trujillo were defeated in Celaya and Lerma bringing the war to the gates of Mexico City. In April 1812 the rebel forces moved towards Toluca. While a defining victory for the insurgency, the Battle of Tolucal Valley also saw the demise of many of its leaders. Obregon and Morelos were killed in battle while Ignacio Allende was captured and later executed.
After the victory in Toluca the remainder of the loyalist government in Mexico City fled to Puebla where the archbishop Francisco Javier de Lizana granted them safe haven. Iturrigaray entered victorious to Mexico City in May 16th 1812. Large parades where organized and soon the national palace was bustling with men dedicated to create a new nation. Later that same month the first flag of the Mexican Empire was raised in the middle of the Zocalo.
News had reached Spain of the situation in Mexico month’s prior and the crown had sent a replacement for Viceroy Garibay and for archbishop Linaza. When they arrived in the summer of 1812 they found Veracruz under a blockade by Velazquez merchant navy. The battle of Veracruz was the only “naval” battle of the war. By its end Velazquez had captured the New Viceroy Félix Maria Calleja. Calleja signed the treaty of Tampico recognizing Mexican Independence and an envoy alongside the old viceroy was sent back to Spain with it.
[1] Michelena was actually a supporter of independence in OTL. However this was mostly due to a rivalry with Iturbide. Since Iturbide’s role has changed so has Michelena’s. Nevertheless he remains mostly loyal to the paycheck and not Spain.
[2] This is OTL’s Morelia. Unlike the province, which will be, renamed Michoacan later on, as in OTL, the city will remain Valladolid.
[4] Agustin de Iturbide actually got to be crowned by placing a similar clause in El Plan de Iguala in OTL. Though it was never publicly announced that the plan had such clasue.
[4] Queretaro, Tampico, and Acapulco (more or less OTL’s Guerrero) have been added as provinces.
And here is the new flag: