Biography
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu was born on September 27, 1783, in Morelia, formerly called Valladolid, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain. As the son of a Spanish colonial official, he received a Catholic education and joined the military as a young man, quickly becoming a capable officer in the Spanish army. Initially, Iturbide was loyal to the Spanish crown, fighting against Mexican independence movements and gaining recognition for his military abilities and loyalty.
During the early stages of the Mexican War of Independence that began in 1810, Iturbide led royalist forces against leaders like Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos. His successes in battle against the independence movement earned him promotions and the trust of Spanish colonial leaders. However, by 1820, changes in Spain and growing unrest in Mexico prompted Iturbide to rethink his position.
In February 1821, Iturbide made a significant shift by announcing the Plan of Iguala, which advocated for Mexican independence while maintaining the Catholic religion and equal rights for both Spanish-born and Mexican-born citizens. This move allowed him to unite former opponents under a single cause, joining royalist forces with longtime independence fighters. His military and political skills were crucial in securing Mexican independence from Spain in September 1821, ending three centuries of colonial rule.
After independence, Iturbide initially served as president of the Mexican Regency, but political pressures and his own ambitions led him to declare himself Emperor Agustín I on May 19, 1822. His reign was chaotic and short, lasting only until March 19, 1823, when growing opposition from republican forces and economic problems forced him to step down. After going into exile in Europe, he tried to return to Mexico in 1824, believing the country faced foreign threats that needed his leadership. However, when he arrived in Nuevo Padilla on July 19, 1824, he was arrested by republican forces and executed, ending the life of Mexico's first and only native-born emperor.
Before Fame
Born into a family of Spanish colonial administrators in Valladolid (now Morelia), Iturbide grew up at a time when New Spain was facing social tensions and economic struggles. His father, José Joaquín de Iturbide, worked in the colonial government, giving young Agustín connections to the Spanish system and a traditional Catholic education focused on loyalty to the crown and church.
The early 1800s were a turbulent time for Spanish America, with Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 causing political uncertainty throughout the empire. These factors, along with growing Creole dissatisfaction with Spanish rule and the influence of Enlightenment ideas, created the conditions that eventually led to widespread independence movements across Latin America, paving the way for Iturbide's rise to prominence.
Key Achievements
- Authored and proclaimed the Plan of Iguala in 1821, which unified diverse factions and secured Mexican independence
- Successfully negotiated the Treaty of Córdoba with Spanish authorities, formally ending Spanish colonial rule in Mexico
- Became Mexico's first constitutional emperor, establishing the Mexican Empire in 1822
- Created the tricolor flag design that became the basis for Mexico's national flag
- United former enemies under a single independence movement, ending eleven years of civil warfare
Did You Know?
- 01.He was married to Ana María Huarte, who became Mexico's first and only empress when he assumed the imperial title
- 02.His imperial reign lasted exactly 10 months, making him one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in the Americas
- 03.The current Mexican flag design originates from the tricolor flag he adopted under the Plan of Iguala in 1821
- 04.He was excommunicated by the Catholic Church despite his strong Catholic beliefs and his plan's emphasis on protecting the faith
- 05.His title 'Liberator of Mexico' was officially granted to him by the Mexican Congress before his coronation as emperor