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Abstract

This dissertation examines the life and reign of Maximilian I of Mexico from the 1830’s up until his death in 1867 and his influence in the decades after. He was approached to accept the throne in the early 1860’s while Mexico was recovering from civil war by Mexican conservatives and the French Emperor Napoleon III. Maximilian officially accepted the throne in 1864 after the French intervention in Mexico had seized Mexico City and would reign until his execution in 1867. Maximilian is often viewed in the historiography today as either a liberal or a man of liberal sympathy, as someone who ignored the warning signs that there were no monarchist sympathies within Mexico. The official nationalist interpretation of Maximilian in Mexico has derided him and his Second Mexican Empire as a mere footnote and aberration in Mexican history, as unimportant to the history and growth of Mexico.

This dissertation will use memoirs written by those close to Maximilian and the secondary literature written to examine whether Maximilian can and should be described as a liberal. It will argue that it is inappropriate to define Maximilian as a liberal, his policies and government structure were at odds with the tenets of nineteenth century liberalism. He shared more in common with conservative figures such as Napoleon III. Additionally, it will argue that Maximilian and the Second Mexican Empire is integral to the History of Mexico and should be remembered, not swept under the rug and ignored.

Course: History - BA (Hons) - C1087

Date Deposited: 2024-01-23

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14307.html