Osprey Men-at-Arms 272 : The Mexican Adventure 1861-1867

The 'Mexican Adventure' was a tragedy of the first order, born of a romantic view of Mexico shared by many Europeans. This school of thought took for granted that most Mexicans were barely capable of governing themselves and that a 'generous intervention' could only be beneficial to all concerned. The Mexican conservatives, who had recently lost power, encouraged this tendency; they managed to convince Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie of France that, with French help, a great Catholic Latin empire could be established south of the United States. This empire would be ruled by the currently unemployed Archduke Maximilian of Austria with his wife, the Belgian Princess Charlotte; and would be a strong ally - some would say a puppet - of France. French troops would easily sweep away opposition and march into Mexico City. For the French Emperor it would be a master stroke: a vast new vassal empire in America, promising new markets, a 'civilising mission', and of course la gloire - just what the French Second Empire needed to recall the glories of the First, and boost public opinion in favour of the regime. Rene Chartrand examines the organisation, weapons and uniforms of the forces who fought on both sides of the conflict in a text accompanied by numerous contemporary photographs and illustrations including eight full page colour plates by Richard Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• The French Intervention
• The Republican Army
• The French Army
• The Imperial Mexican Army
• Foreign Contingents
• Conclusion
• The Plates