Emperor Ferdinand Maximilian I was a tall, lanky man who shied away from confrontation, and had a keen interest in studying botany. He was married to Princess Charlotte of Belgium, cousin to Britain's Queen Victoria and daughter of the King of Belgium. In 1863 Napoleon III and aristocratic members of Mexican society came together and managed to convince the couple to take the Imperial throne of Mexico. Unfortunately the decision meant they both lost all nobility rights in Austria, which meant Princess Charlotte became Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carlota.
The Emperor and Empress arrived in Mexico on May 21 1864 to an enthusiastic crowd. At first everything seemed manageable, as Maximilian had the support of the French crown and the Mexican conservative population. The couple set up residence just outside Mexico City, and immediately became appalled at the stark contrast between the living conditions of the poor and those on the Haciendas. Soon it became clear the new nation Maximilian was to preside over was quite uncontrollable. For starters, Mexican republican sympathizers were continually instigating conflict with French troops.
Maximilian and Carlota were liberals, which is partly why they were so alienated in Europe. At the time, liberally minded nobles were seen as weak, easily manipulated and therefore embarrassing. Yet in Mexico the royal couple had the opportunity to make changes according to their beliefs. Empress Carlota began hosting parties to raise money for poor houses, while the Emperor abolished child labor, restricted working hours, restored communal lands and property, outlawed corporal punishment, dismantled the Hacienda monopoly held by rich Mexicans and canceled all debts for the poor that were over ten pesos. Maximilian also managed to abolish the buying and selling of people working only to clear their debt to their employers, in other words he got rid of a secondary form of slavery in Mexico. The Emperor went even further and supported land reforms, voting rights for landowners and overt religious freedom.
Not surprisingly, Maximilian's conservative allies were extremely dismayed by the changes. It was during this time that the American Civil War was just coming to an end. Liberal interests in Mexico then began to look for support from the Americans in the form of arms depots. Once Maximilian heard about the potential for an American invasion, he invited ex-Confederate sympathizers and veterans to Mexican settlements called Carlota Colonies. By 1866 even the French crown could see there was no use in holding onto Mexico. With the resident European population being outnumbered three to one, and significant resistance coming from the US, Napoleon III made the decision to withdraw French troops.
Empress Carlota then traveled all over Europe trying to gain support for Mexico, even going so far as petitioning the Pope. No one was interested, and Carlota suffered a severe mental breakdown. She never returned to Mexico in her lifetime. In 1867, just three years after arriving as Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian I was executed by firing squad at the hands of Mexican Republicans. Carlota never accepted or admitted her husband's death.
The Emperor and Empress arrived in Mexico on May 21 1864 to an enthusiastic crowd. At first everything seemed manageable, as Maximilian had the support of the French crown and the Mexican conservative population. The couple set up residence just outside Mexico City, and immediately became appalled at the stark contrast between the living conditions of the poor and those on the Haciendas. Soon it became clear the new nation Maximilian was to preside over was quite uncontrollable. For starters, Mexican republican sympathizers were continually instigating conflict with French troops.
Maximilian and Carlota were liberals, which is partly why they were so alienated in Europe. At the time, liberally minded nobles were seen as weak, easily manipulated and therefore embarrassing. Yet in Mexico the royal couple had the opportunity to make changes according to their beliefs. Empress Carlota began hosting parties to raise money for poor houses, while the Emperor abolished child labor, restricted working hours, restored communal lands and property, outlawed corporal punishment, dismantled the Hacienda monopoly held by rich Mexicans and canceled all debts for the poor that were over ten pesos. Maximilian also managed to abolish the buying and selling of people working only to clear their debt to their employers, in other words he got rid of a secondary form of slavery in Mexico. The Emperor went even further and supported land reforms, voting rights for landowners and overt religious freedom.
Not surprisingly, Maximilian's conservative allies were extremely dismayed by the changes. It was during this time that the American Civil War was just coming to an end. Liberal interests in Mexico then began to look for support from the Americans in the form of arms depots. Once Maximilian heard about the potential for an American invasion, he invited ex-Confederate sympathizers and veterans to Mexican settlements called Carlota Colonies. By 1866 even the French crown could see there was no use in holding onto Mexico. With the resident European population being outnumbered three to one, and significant resistance coming from the US, Napoleon III made the decision to withdraw French troops.
Empress Carlota then traveled all over Europe trying to gain support for Mexico, even going so far as petitioning the Pope. No one was interested, and Carlota suffered a severe mental breakdown. She never returned to Mexico in her lifetime. In 1867, just three years after arriving as Emperor of Mexico, Maximilian I was executed by firing squad at the hands of Mexican Republicans. Carlota never accepted or admitted her husband's death.
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