Siege of Querétaro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The siege of Querétaro was the culminating battle of the Second French intervention in Mexico and the Second Mexican Empire. It took place between Republican and Imperial armies from 6 March to 15 May 1867.
Siege of Querétaro | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Second French intervention in Mexico | |||||||
Republican militiamen entering Querétaro | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Mexican Republicans | Mexican Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Mariano Escobedo |
Maximilian I (POW) Miguel Miramón (POW) Leonardo Márquez Tomás Mejía (POW) | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
42,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
2,000 | 9,400 |
After the French departed, the remaining Imperial forces were concentrated in the center of the country. Emperor Maximilian decided to head to the city of Querétaro, while a remaining force was left at the capital. Republican forces arrived at Querétaro on 5 March, after which the siege began. The imperialists held off and won some skirmishes, before the increasing Republican forces made them contemplate an attempt at breaking the lines and heading for the coast. This plan was thwarted however, when Miguel López opened the gates of the town to the enemy, after which the imperialists were overwhelmed.
Maximilian and his generals were captured, tried, and condemned to death. He was executed by firing squad, alongside his generals Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía, on the morning of 19 June at the Cerro de las Campanas.[1]