Customer Reviews

The Crown of Mexico: Maximilian and His Empress Carlota

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I am sorry that this book is out of print, because the story of Maximilian and Carlota is one of history's great tragedies. Haslip obviously sympathizes with the imperial couple, especially Maximilian, who was too idealistic to be a good ruler and too trustful for his own good. Anyone with any sense would have realized that Napoleon III was not to be trusted; that most Mexicans supported Juarez and those that didn't just wanted to get their lands back; and that the United States would not have allowed a monarchy in Mexico. Haslip also shows that Carlota's madness did not happen all of a sudden but it was the result of years of disappointment and Carlota's own suspicious nature. Haslip ends her narrative with Maximilian's funeral in 1867, thus leaving out almost six decades of Carlota's half-life in Belgium.

When we think of the history Mexico, we generally think of the Aztec Empire and its demise and then we jump to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Very few people know that Mexico was once a Monarchy. This book offers a detailed insight of Maximillian's and Charlotte's plight, and all the intrigues behind the Mexican Crown: the secret intentions of the Catholic Church; the political plans of the Mexican aristocracy; Napoleon III's greedy ambitions and many more. The unanimous support of the European Monarchs towards this staggering undertake, to make an European Monarchy out of Mexico and their sudden change of heart marks the beginning of a tragic conclusion. Written with exceptional detail and an engaging style, I think this book is an excellent account of the events that happened in Mexico during the 1860's. A must-read!

When we think of the history Mexico, we generally think of the Aztec Empire and its demise and then we jump to the Mexican Revolution of 1910. Very few people know that Mexico was twice a Monarchy.Frst under Agustin de Iturbide, Emperor of the Mexicans, (1822-23) and then under the rule of Maximillian and Charlotte (1864-67).

This book offers a detailed insight of Maximillian's and Charlotte's plight, and all the intrigues behind the Mexican Crown: the secret intentions of the Catholic Church; the political plans of the Mexican aristocracy; Napoleon III's greedy ambitions and many more, including the uncooperating Mexican military and Benito Juarez who dislikes the monarchy.

The unanimous support of the European Monarchs towards this staggering undertake,and their sudden change of heart marks the beginning of a arduous, short lived reign. Maximillian and Charlotte were doomed from the begining.

Franz Joseph, jealous of his brother magnetism, entices him to accept a crown at the other side of the world.
Napoleon III coveting the silver mines in Sonora, sponsors the Mexican monarchy.
Maximillian, a dreamer, wants to make an ideal empire and spread European culture throughout Mexico.
Charlotte firmly believes that they have been chosen by a divine mandate to rule a great empire.

Written with exceptional detail and an engaging style, this book is an excellent account of the events that happened in Mexico during the 1860's during the years of the unfortunate reign of Maximillian. A must-read!

P.S. As a boy, we visited the Palace of Chapultepec, the residence of the unfortunate monarchs. The gilded carriages are still there. Gowns worn by the empress are still in display, as well as many fantastic military uniforms worn by Maximillian and many of his officers. Crystal chandeliers hang from the center of every room and there are priceless portraits and tapestries hanging from almost every wall. I could only imagine the splendor when it was all new.

From the palace, built on a hill of the same name, the view of Mexico City is amazing. Below the hill, the gardens of Xochimilco are still blooming just as they were in the times of Maximillian.

For the last 15 years, this book sat on my shelf among other books on Mexico. When I finally began to read it, I realized my mistake. This book is not about Mexico, it is a Ladies Home Journal story about a "star-crossed couple from Europe's best families". Oi gavult ! Maximilian, the brother of Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary, and his young wife, Charlotte, daughter of King Leopold I of Belgium, sailed off to become Emperor and Empress of Mexico in 1864, while the US was busy with the Civil War, and when Benito Juarez' struggle with the Church and landlords had become almost endemic in Mexico itself. France backed the whole enterprise with an army and funds, hoping to collect a lot of debts owed them and maybe acquire mineral rights in northern Mexico as well. However, Mexicans did not take kindly to European interference, no matter what well-intentioned, "noble" characters appeared in the guise of `rulers'. Poor, impractical, deluded Maximilian wound up in front of a firing squad, while Charlotte, having gone back to Europe to drum up support for the failing imperial enterprise, went crazy, surviving in her delusions till 1927.

The story of the failed French imperial intervention in Mexico is a fascinating one. It would make an excellent history book. It's just that this is not it. The editing is weak, with a large number of typos. The facts needed a bit of checking as well. Mexico's area as 3.5 million square miles (less than 1/3 of that actually); Mexican Indian civilizations constantly lumped together as "Aztecs"; Mexican Indians are said to be living in the 19th century under the same (bad) conditions as their ancestors----no, almost every aspect of their life had changed, though their economic welfare was still poor; the author fails to distinguish between the Texas war of 1936 and the US-Mexican war nine years later; and writes that Mexicans had grown tired of seeing Santa Anna's face on every hoarding (i.e. `billboard')---a mite anachronistic perhaps ? The purple prose and fawningly loving attitude towards royals, the author's emphasis on breeding, elegance, gardens, palaces, and manners all tended to turn my stomach----I can't stand the imperial pretensions of our elected rulers, much less the antics and noblesse oblige of those who claim leadership flows in their veins. Let's face it, this book is not about Mexico at all, it is a paean to some imagined, cuddly European royal breed, written for people who go ga-ga over the endless amounts of tripe written about the British royal family. Mexico doesn't even rate a mention till page 149. Even then stereotypical images abound. "Mexicans love fireworks and flowers". the "simple, childish faith" of the Mexicans, their "knavishness", their "indiscipline" and lack of ability to keep things clean, their failure to be administrators. The book could be a text in a class on Said's "Orientalism". The final statement of the author's concern lies in her sources---not a single Spanish one, only French, German, Italian and English---her misspelling of Mexico's patron saint, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and constant use of Italian plurals on Spanish words! There is no attempt at cultural relativity, no attempt to see the situation through Mexican eyes, there is no depth, no semblance of an idea or overall view, just a overly long, tedious, blow by blow, pseudo-romantic tale of fatal royal pretensions of grandeur. If you are at all serious about history, give this book a miss.

Maximillian and Charlotte, what a strange couple. They were selected to rule over a country undergoing a civil war. Not only that, but three European countries tried to intervene, and one was trying to make a colony of Mexico. What an interesting story. Maximillian was a daydreamer and idealist who wasn't suited to rule. His wife was a nervous power seeker who wanted the title of Empress. Juarez was an idealist also, and wanted to disabuse Europeans of any notions of setting up a satrap of Mexico. The result is Charlotte fled to Europe and Maximillian went with his army to their doom.

This is a easy read of 400 + pages. It explains a lot of European and Mexican politics in the middle of the 1800s. Most people have heard of Maximillian, but not the entire story as presented here in this book by
Joan Haslip.