| |
N0KFQ > TODAY 05.05.17 14:13l 68 Lines 2565 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 31541_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - May 5
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<N0KFQ
Sent: 170505/1208Z 31541@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ6.0.13
1862
Battle of Puebla
During the French-Mexican War (1861-1867), an outnumbered Mexican
army defeats a powerful invading French force at the small town
of Puebla de Los Angeles. The retreat of the French troops at the
Battle of Puebla represented a great moral victory for the people
of Mexico, symbolizing the country's ability to defend its
sovereignty against a powerful foreign nation.
Benito Juarez and Napoleon III
In 1861, Benito Juarez became president of Mexico, a country in
financial ruin, and he was forced to default on his debts to
European governments. In response, France, Britain, and Spain
sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement.
Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but
France, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to
carve a dependent empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861,
a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large
French force and driving President Juarez and his government into
retreat.
Certain that French victory would come swiftly in Mexico, 6,000
French troops under General Charles de Lorencez set out in May,
1862, to attack Puebla de Los Angeles. From his new headquarters
in the north, Juarez rounded up a ragtag force of loyal men and
sent them to Puebla.
Zaragoza Defeats French Invaders
Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, the 2,000 Mexicans fortified the
town and prepared for the assault by the well-equipped French
force.
On the fifth of May, or Cinco de Mayo, Lorencez gathered his army
and began an attack from the north side of Puebla.
The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening. After Lorencez
realized his superior French force had lost nearly 500 soldiers,
while fewer than 100 Mexican troops had been killed, he
completely withdrew his defeated army.
Battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo
Though not a major strategic victory in the overall war against
the French, Zaragoza's victory at Puebla galvanized Mexican
resistance, and six years later France withdrew. Later that same
year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been
installed as emperor of Mexico by Napoleon in 1864, was captured
and executed by a firing squad.
Puebla de Los Angeles, the site of Zaragoza's historic victory,
was renamed Puebla de Zaragoza in honor of the general. Today,
Mexicans (and Mexican Americans) celebrate the anniversary of the
Battle of Puebla as Cinco de Mayo, a holiday in the state of
Puebla.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
Winlink: n0kfq@winlink.org
Using Outpost Ver 3.1.0 c41
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
