The Last Emperor of Mexico: How a Habsburg Archduke Set Up a Kingdom in the New World in the 1860s

History Unplugged Podcast

History Unplugged

Society & Culture, History

4.2 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2024

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1864, a young Austrian archduke by the name of Maximilian crossed the Atlantic to assume a faraway throne. He had been lured into the voyage by a duplicitous Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte). Keen to spread his own interests abroad, the French emperor had promised Maximilian a hero's welcome. Instead, he walked into a bloody guerrilla war. With a head full of impractical ideals - and a penchant for pomp and butterflies - the new 'emperor' was singularly ill-equipped for what lay in store.

In this episode we are looking at this barely known, barely believable episode - a bloody tragedy of operatic proportions, the effects of which would be felt into the twentieth century and beyond. To discuss his life is today’s guest, Edward Shawcross, author of “The Last Emperor of Mexico: The Dramatic Story of the Habsburg Archduke Who Created a Kingdom in the New World

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Scott here with another episode of the History on Plugged podcast.
0:08.0	At one point in Mexico's history, it was ruled by an Austrian archduke who declared himself emperor but was more or less a puppet of Napoleon's nephew and ruled Mexico on behalf of France in the 1860s.
0:20.0	He ruled for over three years until he was executed by Mexican liberal factions led by Benito
0:26.0	Warrens.
0:27.0	What was happening in Mexico at this time period and who was this Austrian Archduke who created a kingdom in the new world.
0:34.0	In today's episode, we're going to look at the life and brief reign of Maximilian.
0:38.0	He was the younger brother of the Hasburg Emperor,
0:41.0	and the throne of the newly created Mexican Empire was offered to him
0:44.7	by Mexican Conservatives were willing to accept the nominal rulership of the
0:48.8	European Royal in exchange for military support which they got from Napoleon III who sent tens of thousands of
0:55.0	French troops into Mexico. Napoleon wanted to stop the United States from conquering Mexico
1:00.4	in the name of the Monroe Doctrine.
1:02.2	Long story short this new Mexican Empire fell apart.
1:05.0	Maximilian was executed, and this horrified Europe,
1:08.0	much like Franz Ferdinand's assassination 50 years later.
1:11.0	We're going to be looking at this barely known, barely
1:14.1	believable period in history and we're joined by Edward Shawcross, author of
1:18.0	the last Emperor of Mexico, the dramatic story of the Habsburg Archduke who created a
1:22.0	kingdom in the new world.
1:24.0	Hope enjoy this discussion.
1:27.0	And one more thing before we get started with this episode,
1:30.0	a quick break for word from our sponsors.
	...

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