Biography

Maximilian I of Mexico was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.  Born in Vienna, Austria, he was son of Archduke Franz Karl, and Sophie, a Bavarian princess, he was born into the Habsburg-Lorraine House.  His brother was Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I.  He had a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, becoming a lieutenant at age 18, and moving the the ranks to commander in chief of the Austrian Navy from 1854-1861.  The Hapsburg family had ruled the Viceroyalty of New Spain (now Mexico) before Mexican independence, and thus in 1861, Maximilian was offered to take the Mexican throne by the Mexican aristocrats.  However, this was only a scheme to overturn the liberal government of the President Benito Juarez and the French emperor Napoleon III.  Maximilian was crowned emperor on June 10, 1864.  "Maximilian intended to rule with paternal benevolence, viewing himself as the protector of the Indian peasants. He upheld Juárez’ sweeping reforms (to the indignation of the landed proprietors) and was determined to abolish peonage, and he antagonized the Roman Catholic hierarchy by refusing to restore vast church holdings confiscated by Juárez. The treasury was so bare, however, that he had to use his own inherited income for daily expenses." (britannica.com, see full citation below).  The French army had helped to support Maximilian, but with the end of the US Civil War, French troops were forced to withdraw from Mexico, as a violation of the Monroe Doctrine.  His wife, Carlota, sought help from Napoleon III and Pope Pius IX, with no avail.  Maximilian, refusing to "abandon his people", stayed in Mexico and attempted to lead his small armed force of conservative Mexican supporters.  However, in 1867, he was eventually captured and despite many notable people in Europe petitioning to save him, the Mexican president refused to grant clemancy.  Maximilian was excuted on June 19, 1867.