The Origin of Cinco de Mayo - Second French Intervention in Mexico

The year is 1861, and it has been 40 years since Mexico gained its independence from Spain. These 40 years have been tumultuous, to say the least, but nothing would come close to threaten their independence than the Imperial ambitions of a new Napoleon. This is the story of how a young and unstable Republic fought off an Empire, this is the story of the Second French Intervention in Mexico.

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In 1848, Mexico was defeated by the Americans. As a result, Dictator Santa Anna was exiled from the country and tensions rose further and further between the liberals, led by Benito Juárez, and the conservatives leading to yet another civil war a decade later.

On the 17th of July 1861, Juárez suspended any loan repayment to European powers for 2 years. He had good reasons to as the Mexican economy was devastated. But these loans amounted to 70M pesos for Britain, 9M for Spain and 3M for France so the Europeans objected to it

Furthermore, Napoleon Trois, the nephew of the first, was elected as President of France following the 1848 revolution. He dissolved the assembly 3 years later to establish the Second French Empire. Much like his uncle, Napoleon III hoped to make a great French Empire. He eyed the unstable but mineral-rich country of Mexico. Through the installation of a puppet government, he hoped to open the country to European trade and secure French access to Mexican silver as well as curb US expansionism. The loan repayment as well as the start of the American civil war, which meant that the US would be unable to impose its Monroe doctrine, felt like the perfect time to do just that.

In December, Spanish, British and French fleets arrived to Veracruz, which quickly fell and then Cordoba and Orizaba. In February 1862, the Spanish signed the Convention of La Soledad which stated that the alliance recognized the Republican government of Mexico. During that time, however, France kept sending more and more expeditionary forces to Mexico. This resulted in the withdrawal of Spanish and British forces in late April.

Meanwhile, 6,500 men, under the orders of De Lorencez, marched towards Mexico City while the Mexicans, under the orders of General Ignacio Zaragoza, marched a smaller, inexperienced and ill-equipped army against an army that hadn’t been defeated since Waterloo, nearly half a century ago.

The first encounter between the French and Mexican troops occurred on April 28th and was a resounding defeat for the Mexican army. As a result, Zaragoza was forced to retreat with his 4,000 men to the heavily fortified city of Puebla.

On the night of May 3rd, Zaragoza arrived at Puebla, leaving him barely any time to fortify the city as the French troops arrived just two days later at 9AM. At 11:45, the French artillery started shelling the Guadalupe fort with little effect as the old stone held firm. Against all advice, De Lorencez ordered his men to assault the fort. They tried twice, but were pushed back. Finally, De Lorecenz sent his full reserve for the third assault. However, by that time, the artillery had used all its ammunition and so, the assault was carried out unsupported. As a final blow, the retreating French troops were charged by Zaragoza’s cavalry.

Soon after, a torrential rain started, which made the ground too muddy for any hope of another attack. Demoralized, the French camped another few days before they finally withdrew back to Orizaba. That night, the bells of Puebla rang, and the Mexican troops celebrated by singing “La Marseillaise”, which had been banned by Napoleon III.

Zaragoza wouldn’t live to see the Day Mexico was liberated by France as he died of Typhus only four months after his heroic victory at Puebla. In his memory, the town of Puebla was renamed Puebla de Zaragoza. And when Juárez regained control of the country, he decided to commemorate the Battle of Puebla by declaring the 5th of May a national holiday, hence where Cinco de Mayo comes from.

Cinco de Mayo does not celebrate Mexican independence. Mexico’s independence is celebrated on the 16th of September, the day “El Grito de Dolores” started their independence war. Furthermore, cinco de mayo isn’t really that much of a big deal in Mexico and is celebrated at best with military parades and battle reenactments.
#CincodeMayo

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