We explain what the battle of Puebla was and what were the sides they faced. In addition, its characteristics, consequences and more.
What was the battle of Puebla?
The Battle of Puebla It was an armed confrontation that occurred on May 5, 1862 In the immediate vicinity of the city of Puebla, Mexico, between the Army of the Mexican Republic, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, and the Army of the French Empire, by General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Count of Lorencez.
This fight It was framed in the second French intervention in Mexicowhich was the invasion of Mexican territory by French troops, initially motivated by the suspension of the payment of the external debt announced by the liberal government of Benito Juárez.
The battle It happened almost at the beginning of the conflict and its result was a triumph for Mexicanswho defeated despite being at a numerical disadvantage. However, the invasion continued its course and it was not until 1867 that the French were definitely expelled from Mexico. At present, every May 5, the battle is commemorated in Mexico.
Causes of the Battle of Puebla
After the Mexican Civil War known as Reforma Guerra (1858-1861), the victorious liberals had to deal with the scarcity of resources. The President Benito Juárez decreed that he would not pay the external debt And this motivated that the governments of France, Great Britain and Spain signed the London Convention for which they agreed to invade Mexican territory to press the Government.
Juarez sought an understanding with European powers: He repealed the decree that suspended the payment of the debt and reported that he would restart the payments when the situation allowed it (this commitment was the basis of the Treaties of Solitude). The Spanish and English troops renounced their invasion plan, but the French empire of Napoleon III decided to persist in their project to occupy the country.
A French contingent arrived on the coast of Veracruz on March 5, 1862. In April the European Alliance concluded, because the other two powers understood that the French empire had an occupation plan of Mexico. This plan contemplated the establishment of a Mexican monarchy subordinated to France that put a brake on English expansionism and strengthen the French government.
The Mexican conservatives also advocated a monarchy and had convinced the French government that it would have the necessary support to comply with the plan. For this reason, at the end of April The French army advanced to Pueblawith the intention of then addressed to Mexico City.
The faceful armies
The armies that faced in the battle of Puebla were:
The Mexican East Army
The Mexican East Army responded to the Republican Government and was composed of around 4000 menmost without much military instruction. Among its ranks were veterans of the Reforma War, militiamen and armed civilians of Puebla and other states, and a group of indigenous people in the region, especially Zacapoaxtlas, which formed the 6th National Guard Battalion of Puebla.
The East Army was Directed by General Ignacio Zaragozaand among the troop commanders Miguel Negrete stood out (who successfully directed the defense of the forts of the north of the city) and Porfirio Díaz (whose good military performance won a prestige that he knew how to take advantage of politically years later). In addition to the open fighting, the Mexican contingents frequently resorted to guerrillas tactics to deal with the numerical superiority of the French.
The French army
The French army was Integrated by around 6000 soldiers Highly trained and experienced, most integrated into infantry bodies. Among them was a regiment of Zuavos, an important component of the armed forces of the French empire.
Besides, had the support of Mexican conservative military that aspired to establish a monarchy instead of the Republic. His commander was General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, count of Lorencez.
THE BATTLE OF THE CUMBERS
The Battle of Puebla was the second confrontation between the liberal Mexican forces and the troops of the Count of Lorencez since they landed in Veracruz. The first was the battle of the summits, which It took place on April 28, 1862 in a mountain step in the Cuits de Acultzingobetween the states of Veracruz and Puebla.
French troops marched to Pueblaconfident in the victory due to its impeccable history of battles (they had not been defeated since the battle of Waterloo, 50 years before) and by the generalized weakness of Mexico, which suffered the 50 -year sequelae of civil wars.
In the Cuitzingo Cumbres, the Mexican troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza They temporarily cut the pass to the Frenchwhich caused a series of skirmishes between both armies. Finally, the Mexican army retired to Puebla, where he planned to resist the French forces that crossed the mountain pass and continued their march.
Preparations for the Battle of Puebla
The defense organized by General Zaragoza in Puebla consisted of Fortify the city against the imminent French attackespecially the southern fronts, east and north. A barracks was installed a few meters from the battle front and the Mexican troops (which were called the East Army) prepared to repel the invaders before they reached the urban area.
Two artillery batteries and 1200 men defended the strong Guadalupe and Loreto, located in two hills to the north of the city, while 3500 infantry soldiers and a cavalry brigade They were distributed in different defensive positions. One of them was commanded by Porfirio Díaz, future president of Mexico.
The French left Amozoc to Puebla and divided their troops: A first column of around 4000 men, protected by artillery, advanced on the forts, in which the Mexican army was stronger; The remaining column remained in the reserve. The battle began at 11:15 in the morning of May 5.
The battle
The count of Lorencez decided to attack the strong Guadalupe and Loretoalthough he was advised to advance on another flank. This decision, based on its confidence in French superiority, had serious consequences, since the strong formed the best Mexican defensive position.
The attack of the Loreencez troops He was repelled by infantry, Mexican artillery and cavalry. Unable to take the forts, Lorencez ordered a last assault when victory was already outlined for Mexicans. He used the rest of his forces, with the exception of a regiment that guarded the rear.
They were faced by the Zapators of San Luis de Potosí, led by General Francisco Lamadrid, at the skirts of Cerro de Guadalupe. A battalion commanded by Porfirio Díaz also intervened in defense.
That afternoon a downpour fell that made the progress of the French even more difficult, who after being repelled were persecuted by the Mexican cavalry and retreated in the Los Alamos hacienda, from where they retired to Amozoc. The battle officially ended at 5:49 in the afternoon.
Deaths in the Battle of Puebla
At the end of the battle, which lasted from 11.15 in the morning until 5.49 in the afternoon, 83 dead, 132 injured and 12 missing from the Mexican side were counted. The French side, on the other hand, accounted for 172 dead or missing and 304 injured. Anyway, these numbers are not safe, since the documents offer different figures difficult to corroborate.
The human cost of battle was greater for the Frenchwho were forced to retire and had to await France reinforcements before trying again to Puebla.
Consequences of the battle of Puebla
The French army retired to San Agustín del Palmar. The count of Lorencez returned to France and was replaced by Elie-Frédéric Forey under the command of the French troops in Mexico, which had to wait for reinforcements.
The defeat of the French army (considered at that time the best in the world) before an impoverished country in America, generated hysteria and confusion reactions in Europe. Sometimes rumors came to France about wild aboriginal alleged who murdered the soldiers of the empire and devoured their bodies.
In the Mexican ranks, the triumph was important but passenger. General Zaragoza died from contracting Tifus in September 1862still quartered in Puebla, which meant an important loss for the Mexican army. In recognition of his role in the first defense of Puebla, Benito Juárez renamed the city “Puebla de Zaragoza”.
Just a year later, French General Forey managed to take Puebla After two months of Mexican resistance and left the road to Mexico City. The result was the establishment of the second empire of Mexico and the continuation of hostilities between Mexicans loyal to the Republic and the French allied with monarchical Mexicans.
Second Battle of Puebla
Between March 16 and May 17, 1863 The French troops returned to Puebla and besieged for 62 days. Zaragoza had died of Tifus in September of the previous year, so the defense of the city fell to General Jesús González Ortega, a new commander of the East Army. The French army leader was General Elie-Frédéric Forey.
On this occasion, The victory went to the French, who took Puebla and subsequently advanced towards Mexico City. The objective was to overthrow the constitutional government and establish the second empire of Mexico, so in June a higher board of government composed of Mexican politicians favorable to the monarchy was created.
A year later assumed as emperor of Mexico Maximiliano de HabsburgArchduke of Austria. The war continued until the Republican victory and the expulsion of the French in 1867.
May 5 celebration
The battle of Puebla, together with the shout of Dolores that began Mexican independence, It is one of the national dates of the Mexican tradition. It is celebrated on May 5 in commemoration of the battle that took place on May 5, 1862.
It is considered a date representative of the national triumph against a foreign power and of the power of the Mexican nation once the internal political differences have been exceeded. In the United States, “May five” is celebrated as a commemorative date of Mexican culture.
References
- Delgado de Cantú, GM (2015). History of Mexico. Historical legacy and recent past. Third edition. Pearson.
- Pani, E. (comp.) (2012). French intervention in the Mexican history magazine. The College of Mexico.
- Von Wobeser, G. (coord.) (2014). History of Mexico. Economic Culture Fund.
- “Battle of Puebla” in British Encyclopedia.
