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The Execution of Maximilian by Edouard Manet, 1867

Following years of political instability and a financial crisis that had crippled the country, the president of Mexico, Benito Juárez, announced a suspension on all repayment on loans contracted with European powers. This declaration set in motion a wave of consternation and indignation that swept through Britain, France, and Spain, resulting in a suspension of diplomatic relations and the decision to launch a tripartite military expedition to force Mexico to restart repayments and - where possible - begin recouping the borrowed money at source. Behind this seemingly simple financial motivation, however, lay a far more complicated affair, one inspired by European imperialistic ethos, global geopolitical considerations, and religious devotion. Our close-up - featuring a detailed timeline, multiple biographies, and first-hand accounts of the campaign - unpicks this fascinating episode of the Second Empire which saw an Austrian archduke reign briefly as Mexican emperor.
 
(October 2011)

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