On May 5, 1862, Mexican forces defeated French invaders at the Battle of Puebla.
Following the Mexican-American War of 1846-48 and the Reform War of 1858-61, Mexico’s Treasury was nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, newly elected president Benito Juárez announced that Mexico would not be making any foreign debt payments for two years.
That October, French, Spanish, and British diplomats met in London and formed the Tripartite Alliance. Their goal was to invade Mexico, take control of the major port at Veracruz, and force the Mexican government to recommit to paying their debts.
The Spanish forces arrived at Veracruz in December 1861, followed by the British and French in January 1862. The three forces occupied Veracruz. The forces moved further inland while the Tripartite Alliance’s commissioners met with the Mexican foreign minister in Orizaba. But then in April, the alliance crumbled as the French revealed they intended to invade Mexico and create a new Mexican Empire. The British and Spanish forces left, while the French forces marched for Mexico City.
The French army under General Charles de Lorencez first defeated a small Mexican force outside Orizaba at Escamela before capturing the city. On April 28, the French defeated Mexican forces under General Ignacio Zaragoza in a skirmish at Acultzingo Pass. Zaragoza’s troops then retreated to the heavily fortified Puebla.
Meanwhile, Lorencez believed that the people of Puebla supported the French. On April 17, a Mexican general, who had been a foreign minister under the conservative government that was defeated in the Reform War, had issued a manifesto claiming France’s intentions were benevolent. So on May 5, 1862, he chose to directly attack the town from the north, where it was most heavily fortified. His attack began later in the day, with his artillery barrage just before noon and infantry advance around noon. By the time his forces launched their third attack, they had used all their reserves and they were running out of artillery ammunition.
The Mexican defenders put up a fierce defense and then followed the French out of town as they retreated. By the battle’s end, the French had lost 462 men while the Mexicans had lost 83. Lorencez expected Zarazoga to launch another attack in the coming days, but it never came, and he eventually withdrew back to Orizaba. The French forces then regrouped, received reinforcements from France, and renewed the fighting. The French won the Second Battle of Puebla a year later and eventually took the capital and established the short-lived Second Mexican Empire.
In spite of this, the Battle of Puebla was a major source of inspiration for the people of Mexico during and after the war. The Mexican victory had stunned the world, which expected that the French would easily win the battle. Just days after the battle, on May 9, 1862, the Mexican president declared that the battle’s anniversary would be a national holiday known as Battle of Puebla Day or Battle of Cinco de Mayo.
Today, Cinco de Mayo isn’t a national holiday in Mexico, but public schools are closed and it is an official holiday in the State of Puebla.
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It was the French they fought. France hasn’t won a war since the 14th Century. Beginning with
Agincourt through Dien Bien Phu.
It is really good that you chose today to explain the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo. For years I had just assumed that it was like the 4th of of July, that is an independence day from Spain. Shame on me for allowing myself to assume and not learn. I’ll bet there are many out there who don’t know that it commemorates the Battle of Puebla. Thanks for the history lesson.
It does seem the independence from Spain would be a note worthy holiday celebration but it doesn’t get any attention that I know about. Thanks Mystic Stamp. Even living in Texas, most people are not aware of the true reason for Cinco de Mayo.
16th de Septiembre is Mexico’s Independence Day. Celebrated in Mexico.
To learn further about Mexican history, check out Sept. 10, or the Grito de Dolores, which occurred in 1810. That is the Mexican Independence Day.
El Grito is Sept 16.
Valorie, the country was France not Spain.
I was confused but now I realize you meant the independence in 1821 and not the battle in 1862.
Our daughter’s birthday – makes it extra special…….