 |
       |
 |
|
|
|
|
Mexican Heroes
Miguel Hidalgo He was sent to Valladolid (now Morelia) to study at the San Nicolás Obispo College, where he later taught theology, philosophy and ethics, and eventually became college rector. In 1792, he was ordained (he became a priest) and after working a different parishes, came to practice his ministry at the Parish of Dolores. Of liberal ideas, he joined a group of patriots, who in 1810, conspired in Querétaro in favor of the Independence of Mexico. Although the armed movement was planned to start in October of that year, the conspiracy was discovered and several of its members were arrested. After receiving a warning sent by the wife of the magistrate of Querétaro, Doña Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez, Hidalgo joined with Aldama, Allende, Abasolo and others, and decided to begin the uprising immediately. Thus, at dawn on September 16, 1810, the residents of the village of Dolores, potters, carpenters, blacksmiths and peasants, responded to the summons of father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to begin the Independence struggle. In the space of just two weeks, the insurgent army obtained a series of quick and easy victories. From Dolores, they moved on to Atotonilco, San Miguel el Grande (now Allende), Chamucuero, Celaya (where Miguel Hidalgo received the rank of Captain General, and Ignacio Allende was promoted to Lieutenant General), Salamanca, Irapuato and Silao, until reaching Guanajuato. Faced by the insurgent army, the Spaniards took refuge with their families and goods in the Alhóndiga de Granaditas corn exchange in the city of Guanajuato. However, after a bloody struggle in which the furious crowd massacred its defenders, the fortress was finally taken. From Guanajuato, Don Miguel Hidalgo headed towards Valladolid and took the city on October 17, 1810, without a fight. He then stayed in the city for several days to organize his troops before leaving for the viceregal capital, Mexico City. On August 30, Hidalgo won an outstanding victory at Monte de las Cruces in the outskirts of Mexico, when he defeated Trujillo (a Royalist colonel). Unfortunately, Hidalgo did not take advantage of his victory; instead of sending his troops to take Mexico City and capitalize on the confusion his victory has caused among the Spanish ranks, he ordered his army to retreat to Ixtlahuaca, on the road to Toluca. At Puente de Calderón, near Guadalajara, the insurgent army faced the royalist troops commanded by general Félix Calleja; Hidalgo and his men suffered a terrible defeat and were forced to retreat northwards. On May 21, 1811, when Hidalgo, Allende and 27 other comrades reached Acatita de Baján, they were treacherously ambushed by Ignacio Elizondo and taken prisoner. They were brought to Chihuahua, where on June 16, 1811, Allende, Aldama and Jiménez were shot. Just one month later, on July 30 of the same year, Hidalgo was also executed. The viceregal government was convinced that after the execution of its leaders in Chihuahua, the insurgent movement would be ended. However, this was not so. Ignacio López Rayón had remained in Saltillo; he managed to escape from the enemy and marched to the province of Michoacán, where he and his troops would receive help from the local population. Unfortunately for the royalists, military genius José María Morelos was fighting in the southern mountains, in support of the victorious campaigns led by the Galeana and Bravo brothers, Mariano Matamoros and many others. By 1821, the ideals fought for by Miguel Hidalgo and many other Mexicans for over eleven years were finally attained; Mexico was free and independent. Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez She was born to Juan José Ortiz – a captain of Los Morados regiment – and his wife Manuela Girón in Valladolid (today Morelia). Her father was killed in action early in her infancy and her mother died soon after. Maria Sotero Ortiz, Josefa's sister, took care of her upbringing and managed to secure a place for her in the prestigious Colegio de las Vizcaínas in 1789. She married Miguel Domínguez, a frequent visitor of the college, in 1791. In 1802 Miguel Domínguez was appointed by the Viceroy of New_Spain to the office of Corregidor (a kind of magistrate) in the city of Querétaro. During that time Doña Josefa took care of household chores and the education of the two sons from her husband's previous marriage, although they eventually had 12 children together. Doña Josefa identified herself strongly with the abuse suffered by the criollo community on the hands of continental Spaniards, being one herself. Criollos were often seen as second-class citizens – by virtue of being born in New Spain as opposed to metropolitan Spain – and were relegated to secondary roles in the administration of the colony. This obviously created discontent among criollos who soon started to organize "literary" societies where works of the Enlightenment banned by the Catholic Church were discussed. Doña Josefa herself attended some of the early meetings and eventually convinced her husband to host a number of them in their house. The meetings, attended by figures such as Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende, quickly acquired political overtones. The overthrow of Ferdinand VII as a result of the Peninsular War in Spain suddenly increased the prospect of independence for the colonies. The meetings in Doña Josefa's house became central to the conspiracy and much of the insurgent planning (if not all) was done there, and she even supported the insurgents financially. After some planning the rebels had already started to store weapons and supplies in safe houses. The beginning of the revolution was planned for October 1, 1810. However, on September 13 the conspirators were betrayed by an insider, who informed the viceroyal authorities about rebel activities in Querétaro. Unaware of his wife's allegiance, Corregidor Domínguez was asked to conduct a house search in the town in order to apprehend the rebel leaders. Doña Josefa was locked in her room to prevent her from relaying this information to her fellow conspirators, and at the same time hide any link with them. By that time, however, the rebels had a large following, and Doña Josefa eventually managed to get a warning out through the town mayor, Don Ignacio Pérez. The news allowed the leaders of the conspiracy to flee the town and prompted Miguel Hidalgo to issue the famous Grito de Dolores in the early hours of September 16, an event that signaled the start of the Mexican War of Independence. Eventually the role Doña Josefa and her husband played in the conspiracy was uncovered. They were imprisoned separately. Doña Josefa was sent to the monastery of Santa Clara, in Querétaro, and then to Mexico City to stand trial. She was found guilty, despite her husband's efforts as her lawyer, and secluded in the monastery of Santa Teresa. Due to her rebellious character she was soon transferred to the nunnery of Santa Catalina de Sena, which was considered to be stricter in terms of discipline. She was finally released in 1817 under oath that she would refrain from supporting the rebels. After independence was secured, Mexican Emperor Agustín de Iturbide in 1822 offered Doña Josefa the position of lady-in-waiting for his wife, Ana Duarte de Iturbide. However, La Corregidora believed the establishment of a Mexican Empire, instead of a Republic, was against the ideals she had fought for during the revolution, and thus refused the honor. In 1823 she was designated a "woman of honor" by the empress, a tribute which she also rejected. During the late years of her life, Doña Josefa was involved with several liberal groups, some of them radical in nature. She always refused any reward from her involvement in the independence movement arguing that she was only doing her duty as a patriot. Doña Josefa died March 2, 1829 in Mexico City. She was originally buried in the nunnery of Santa Catalina de Sena, but later her remains were moved to Querétaro to the nunnery of Santa Cruz. The government of Querétaro declared her Benemérita del Estado. She is revered in Mexico. Her portrait has appeared on coins and stamps. The La Corregidora stadium in Querétaro is named after her. Ignacio Allende José María Morelos y Pavón As the insurgent troops led by Hidalgo marched fearlessly towards Valladolid after taking Guanajuato, they stopped at the small village known as Charo, where Morelos introduced himself to his old teacher, and offered his services and life to the Independence struggle. Hidalgo placed him at the head of an army; he gave him the rank of colonel and told him to spread the revolution southwards. |
||
|
|||
|
©2008 GoLatino! Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation |
When the Mexican War of Independence began in the nearby town of Dolores (now known as Dolores Hidalgo) September 16th, 1810, an act now celebrated as "El Grito", the rapidly growing revolutionary army came to San Miguel El Grande. Dolores Hidalgo is now known as the "Cradle of National Independence", while San Miguel de Allende calls itself the "Forge of National Independence". It was in San Miguel that General Ignacio Allende joined the army as Padre Miguel Hidalgo's chief lieutenant and led the army to several victories. Allende was not able to enjoy an independent Mexico, free from Spanish colonial oppression, as he was captured during a battle and beheaded. General Ignacio Allende is now a national hero, and San Miguel el Grande renamed itself "San Miguel de Allende" in 1826 in honor of his actions.
José María Morelos y Pavón was born in the city of Valladolid (now Morelia) in 1765. During his youth, he was a student of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla at the San Nicolás College, where Hidalgo was rector. After finishing his studies, he was ordained as a priest and became Parish Priest of Curácuaro. He later moved to Nicupétaro; both of these places are in Guanajuato.