"Mexicans, at the cry of war": A Bonaparte Legacy Mexican AAR

[Asalto]

For the record...

From the vibe I get with TBL's Mexico, it's more of a Constitutional Monarchy. Taking into consideration the liberal views of the first emperor (or second, if you count Augustin I's First Empire), Maximiliano I, he would've at least supported a liberal monarchy, albeit one that still maintains some degree of conservative values (like Catholicism is still the state religion, and all that.)

Probably something like pseudo-constitutional monarchy, with constition written and benevolently gifted to subjects by Emperor himself? Also strong role of Emperor, loyal minister cabinet and rubber-stamp parliament comes in package, together with some enlighted reforms meant to pacify and improve position of unruly folks who would otherwise not appreciate the sheer existence of legitimate monarchy.

 

[Tus3]

A Bonapartes Legacy AAR?
I'd have wanted to make one since I downloaded the mod (mostly because there weren't yet any), well they still are less common then Kaiserreich AARs.
subscribed, by the way.

 

[TheRemQc]

I presume they will join France.

France, England and the Confederacy have all funded Mexico and helped it toi ndustrialize. The Empire is a creation of France in 1865 and Mexico still have good relation with France. But remember that it was Napoleon's France that helped bring Maximilian on the throne, not the nazi regime that is ruling the hexagon in 1936...

For the record...

From the vibe I get with TBL's Mexico, it's more of a Constitutional Monarchy. Taking into consideration the liberal views of the first emperor (or second, if you count Augustin I's First Empire), Maximiliano I, he would've at least supported a liberal monarchy, albeit one that still maintains some degree of conservative values (like Catholicism is still the state religion, and all that.)

Yup, I will talk of it in chapter two but mostly, the liberal legacy of Maximilian is still present in the way Maria I is ruling Mexico at the time.

Oh man! this is amazing! Mexico has plenty of room to expand in central america before retaking their old borders!

I hope you made an event for purchasing Belize from UK.

Hey you! Stop spoiling!

 

[Mkoll13]

This promises to be very interesting and I will be following along!

 

[TheRemQc]

Hi everybody, given that I worked a lot on my events and that I took a big advance in my gameplay regarding to the AAR, I decided to post two updates per week. It will be on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you have any questions, just ask and I will make my best to answer them. Again, thank you all for your support and please forgive me for all the mistakes I'm doing in my text.

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Chapter Two: Empire's Health Check

Coronation of Augustin I in 1823

In 1936 the Mexican Empire wobbles under the communism ideas comming for the north. But it has not always been like this. In 1864 the arrival of Maximilian I of Austria on the throne was highly supported by the French Empire under the rule of Napoleon III. In fact, the new Mexican monarch was a puppet leader under the order of Paris. However, the european intervention successfully break the republican armies in 1867. Even if the Austrian, Spanish, Belgian, Confederate, English and Turkish coalition, under the leadership of France, actually restored order in Mexico, internal unrest were still common and to maintain the monarchy in place, the French had to keep a large garrison in Veracruz and Mexico City for years. In fact, the last french soldiers left Mexico only in 1912.

French soldiers in Mexico circa 1912

Between the coronation of Maximilian and the leaving of the last French garrison, the Mexican authorities succeeded in stabilizing the political situation. Step by step, the Empire of Mexico rose from a minor puppet State into a truly independant country. Large amount of foreign investments were given to Mexico to support it's industrialization. By doing so, the nations that were sending money were increasing their influence toward the young monarchy. The three big players in terms of investments were the United Kingdom, CSA and France. Thanks to them, by 1900 the Mexican industry had grown to a point nobody would have expect before the arrival of the French in the country. Mexican oil industry became one of the most productive in the world and oil quickly became the biggest export of Mexico.

Mexican railroad workers posing for the camera

Manufactory in Mexico in 1903

Mexico was entering an age of prosperity at the time

Following the end of the Great War, the Confederate investments began to outweigh those of the French and by 1920 the Mexican Empire had entered a little golden age of it's own. The Mexican government was awash in cash and the foreign industries were getting bigger and bigger. The government consolidated and the rule of law was firmly established as part of the Mexican society. For the first time in Mexican history, the people of Mexico were feeling a true sense of belonging toward their native land.

Emiliano Zapata, socialist and anti-monarchist, was very popular in Northen Mexico during the 20s and the 30s but not taken seriously by the elite of the country

But with the London stock market crash in 1929 and the painfull years that followed, the situation became much more difficult, particulary in the North, where Emiliano Zapata was asking for the class struggle, the end of the monarchy and for a government more focused on contryside.

The political class of the Empire of Mexico

Despite all the troubles caused by socialists movements in the North, the majority of the Mexican people were loyal to the central government in México City. Her Majesty the Empress of Mexico, Maria I de Iturbide was crowned in 1925 during the prosperity area and became very popular to the people by mingling with the crowd after speeches and by founding several charities across Mexico. She perfectly knew that the constitutional monarchy she was leading had to gain trust of the Mexicans. She delegated several powers to the hands of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and to local authorities. Thereby, she continue in the footsteps of her uncle Augustin III and her adoptive grandfather Miximilian I in giving to the Mexican Empire a little focus toward liberalism despite the rare elections. Despite this, in term of foreign policy, the real master of Mexico was the Imperial Secretary of War: Pablo Quiroga Escamilla. Escamilla was mostly loyal to the monarchy but above all, to Mexico. In his mind, the constitutional Empire regime was the better way to satisfy public opinion without losing control of the army to civilian hands. In this way, he was able to slowly set up his plans for the future of the Mexicans borders... However, he was usually obeying to the orders of the Council, as long these orders suited him fine.

In office since 1919, Escamilla was the real master of Mexico and by adopring a strong foreign policy, he lead his contry to the international stages

In the end, the situation in Mexico in 1936 is pretty stable, even if the socialist leaders are shoutings for revolution and for the class struggle, nobody in the high spheres is really aware of what's to come. What is certain, is that the next decades are gonna be decisive for the long-term future of the current government of the Empire.
​

 

[Mkoll13]

I suspect that Escamilla is going to bring about a new, more satisfying borderline for Mexico

 

[Asalto]

This makes me eager to see more about the progress of beatiful Mexican Empire.

 

[TheRemQc]

Chapter Three: Own Flesh and Blood

The CSS Houston in Miami circa 1940

Veracruz harbour, July 19, 1936.

First Lieutenant John Gray was watching the scene from the rear deck of the CSS Houston. He was trying to estimate the number of Mexican protesters on the docks but the task seemed impossible. As far as he could see, the human tide was covering the whole city. The noise coming from the crowd was deafening and for sure nobody down there was hearing wath he was saying.

- For now the police seems only to hold them back, he said.
- Yeah, looks like they don't want any trouble, his brother beside him reply.

Alexander Gray was younger than him and he was only a Marine First Class but John had manage to keep his brother with him in the same unit of the CS Marine Corps when he enlist. Now they were part of the little Marines detachment on board of the Houston, a light cruiser of the Fayetteville class. The ship was part of the 10th CS Fleet based at Miami and was anchored in the Mexican harbour since a week to protect the Confederates interests in the area.

- I haven't see anything like this before, it's really huge, doesn't it? the Lieutnant said to his brother.
- Yeah it is, but how is it gonna end?
- I suppose that if the police only watch and let them shouts as they want, notting bad is gonna happen.
- You're dead right but I don't think Mexicans are listening at you.
- Why you said so?
- Look over there, isn't this mounted police?
- Damn, yes I think it is.

Indeed, two dozen of policmen armed with clubs were now charging in the crowd from the north. A few minutes later, another group was coming from the south and another pushing from the west. Knocking heads as they advanced, the policemen were slowly dispersing the crowd and pushing the most stubborns toward the sea.

- Looks like those men on their horses know what they are doing.
- Yep, Alex, I have no choice but to agree with you on...

BANG!

- Good lord! was that a gunshot?
- I'm afraid it was. Let's hope there is not much armed people over there...

A gunshot had indeed been fired. The second after, a policeman feel from his horse. Then a second shot and a third were fired from the crowd. Soon, horses and men on them where all down or racing away from the human tide. The protesters had became rioters. Within an hour, the situation had degenerate even more, barricades had grown up in the streets and shops where looted, trashed and burned down. Because of the attempt to disperse the crowd, the riot had spread to the whole city. At this moment, the mayor called the local garrison in backup. But most of the garrison in Veracruz was composed of part-time volunteers, and most of them were dockers or factory workers, in other words, proletarians. So, the inevitable happened: the garrison, or most of it, mutinied.

By the end of the day, the city of Veracruz was under control of the rioters. The only place in the city that remained under the authorities control was the military docks in the habour. As if that was not enough, the Occidental Squadron of the Mexican Royal Navy was at sea in execise, it means that except the small detachment of the Mexican Imperial Marines the naval base was defenseless. But the rioters still aven't make no move against the military as the sunset.

During the night, First Lieutenant John Gray was awakened by his superior and bring to the briefing room where the Captain and most of the officers were already.

- Gentlemen, say the Captain, I just received a missive from President Bailey in Charleston, we are ordered to cooperate with our Mexicans allies, that have asked for help to him personnaly, in the task of restoring order in Veracruz.

On the morning, together with the few Mexican Marines, the CS Marines entered in action, Confederate and Mexican officiers adopted a rough method to deal with the rioters, killing tens of them. But the violent, coordinate and efficient combined actions of CS Marines convinced the leaders of the riot that any more resistance was useless and they flee from the city as fast as they could.

At the end of the day, Lieutenant Gray was talking with one of his Mexican counterpart.

- Happy with the outcome pal? asked John.
- Are you crazy? answer the Mexican.
- What's wrong? We got'em!
- I'm not happy at all! Today I shot other Mexicans, fellows and compatriots, my own flesh and blood!
- You had no other choice, it was you or them.
- I know... but I have the feeling that this is the beginning of something bigger, someting bloodier than anything we have seen in Mexico...

John Gray knew of what the Mexican Marine was talking about, his father and grandfather had knew it too well... Two words that had changed the fate of his country forever, two words that are likely going to change the fate of Mexico as well...
Civil War


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[Tus3]

What an anticlimax, halfway in your post it really sounded like the revolution would start immidiatly instead of ending in a cliffhanger.
Well, I guess a bit of suspense can't hurt.

 

[TheRemQc]

Well, when the events fired in my game I was thinking the same...

 

[TheRemQc]

A day late, here's the fourth chapter!

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Chater Four: All Quiet on the Northen Front

Royalist strongpoint near Monterrey in 1937

On November 1th 1836, the garrison of Hermosillo had face the same situation that the Veracrux one four months earlier. Like in Veracruz, the small garrison was composed of volunteers and like in Veracruz, wen ordered to open fire on the rioters, the garrison mutinied. However, in Sonara no regular troops where near to crack down the revolt and two days later a small biplane comming from the USSA landed outside the city, onboard was Lázaro Cárdenas, leader of the banned Partido Revolucionario Institucional, who has been in forced exile in the United Socialist Sates since few years. In Hermosillo, Cardenas met with Emiliano Zapata and the local leaders of the newly formed soviet. Together, they decided to proclaim the Socialist Republic of Mexico and to claim sovereignty over all Mexico. Within two days around twenty departments had already joined the new government, now based in Monterrey. The departments still loyal to Mexicco City falling like dominoes, many foreign observators were not believing in the capacity of the Empire to survive. But on november 6th, the royalist army successfully repel the revolutionary wave in Veracruz. From then on, the socialists began to face resistance in their aim to convert all Mexican land to socialism. Step by step, the royalist resistance grew bigger to eventually became an open warfare between both factions.

Following those events, the Confederate Sates government decided to send supplies and military equipment to the Imperial Army. But they also raised two division of Dixies volunteers, more than 20 000 men to help the small Mexican Army. The CS Air Force also send the Vulture Legion in Mexico, mostly composed of fighter bomber aicrafts the legion will play a key role during the wole war in repelling the bomber raids directed against Mexico City and in giving close air support to the royalist army fighting in the desert. It should be noted that during the whole war, the revolutionary bombers were in facts aircrafts flew by USSA volunteers.

In Mexico, the government mobiziled most of the coutry's policemen to use them against Revolutionary Mexico and with them, lauched a offensive in the sierra madre occidentale in the winter of 1936-1937. This campaign had been ordered by the secretary of war Pablo Quiroga Escamilla himself and was intended to break the supply lines of the rebels with the USSA. However the poor level of transportation infrastructures in the area slowed the progression of the royalists and Escamilla decided to lauch a offensive against the revolutionary capital Monterrey in early spring.

For now though, the rebel army have not launched any offensive against the royalist army. This was, for Escamilla, the most important. He wanted to show to the world and to the Mexican people that the uprising the North was not a big deal. This way, the foreigners will continue to take the Empire of Mexico seriously and won't cancel their financial help that was vital for Mexico and the loyal Mexicans will not have the idea to rise up, this was, truly, a matter of life or death for Mexico.

​

 

[HIMDogson]

Viva la Emperiza! Viva Mexico! Death to the Reds!

 

[Attalus]

Death to reds and their puppet masters in the north!

Will we see a reclamation of Alta California if war erupts against the Socialist USA ? (and if you win of course)

 

[_Leo]

Death to reds and their puppet masters in the north!

Will we see a reclamation of Alta California if war erupts against the Socialist USA ? (and if you win of course)

I would see him waiting for the Confederates and the Socialists to go to war and seize this opportunity to retake rightfull Mexican clay.

 

[TheRemQc]

Death to reds and their puppet masters in the north!

Will we see a reclamation of Alta California if war erupts against the Socialist USA ? (and if you win of course)

I would see him waiting for the Confederates and the Socialists to go to war and seize this opportunity to retake rightfull Mexican clay.

Only Escamilla knows... In earnest, I don't want to give too much clues so I will only say that the original events file for Imperial Mexico weighed 18 kb and that he now weighs 68. Let's say that progress has been made on this...

 

[DKM]

subbed

 

[TheRemQc]

Chapter Five: Preview of something bigger

USS Army troops in Mexico in 1937

Outside the town of Rosario, Sinaloa Department April 2nd 1937.

Private Second class Mark King has just finish his morning coffee wen the shelling had begun. The young man had run to his firing pit and was now doing his best to cover himself from the bombardment. His best wasn't enough and after a little while a shell landed beside him. Dirt flew in the air and soon he was almost burried alive. Fortunately his seargent passed by and helped him to get out from the grave.

- Thank you sarge, I owe you one.
- No problem son, now try to get to cover again, those damn greasers aren't gonna stop this soon.
- Sarge, we have Mexicans on our side too...
- Do I look like I care? Right now my troops are being bombed and this is the only thing that really matters.
- Yes sarge.

Royalist armoured car in action outside of Rosario

Mark find out another firing pit already occupied by a dead comrade, he removed the dead body and crept into safety. But at midday the shelling had stopped and two dozen of armoured cars began to advance toward the USS lines. Butchered by the point blank machine gun fire, the American troops retreated under cover in the town of Rosario. With the USS Army protected from the armoured cars inside the town, the royalist army began to bomb Rosario during the night.

Two days later, the royalist army entered the town, beginning an inglorious street fight that will last until the end of the war...

Street fight in Rosario

- Have you heard this?
- Shut up Mark it's almost midnight and I need to sleep.
- No, no! I really heard something strange.
- Really? Tell me more about it Sherlock.
-I think I just heard english speaking in the house across the street.
- Yes and so what? Don't know if you know but we are more than eight thousand in this damned town.
- Yes but, correct me if I'm wrong, but we do not have any Texans in our army.
- Wait, what?
- To me it souned like anything but a new yorker sir...
- Wake up the platoon we will have a look at it.
- Yes sir.

The platoon went outside and crawled across the street. On the other side, they deployed men all around the little house, slowly opened the door and asked the pasword to the unknown occupants. The only answer they got was an explosion of gunfire and shouts of order... indeed in english!

- Confederates, they are Confederates!
- Retreat, others are walking up the street! Fast!
- Run run run!
- Mark, go to the HG and tell them what's going on!
- Yes sir!

CSA Army in Mexico at th end of 1936

During the following days, violents hands to hands fights occurred. The Confederate volunteers shooting at the USSA ones and vice versa. In fact, the both expeditionary corps sent by the CSA and the USSA spend the whole war bugged down in the little town and both suffered eavy losses, mostly inflicted by their counterparts.

​

 

[TheRemQc]

This chapter is quite late because I'm having problems with my picture hosting tool, the trial account is almost over and I'm looking for a good one that would be free. So if anybody have the answer to my problem...

===
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Chapter Six: The civil war, every months

B-23s over Mexico City, May 28th 1937


On Febuary 1st, two months after the beginning of the Mexican Civil war, the fighting had not progressed very much. The winter offensive of Escamilla had failed to break the rebels in two due to the poor level of infrastructures and the material sent from the USSA to Revolutionary Mexico. Here's what came next.

Major General Joaquín Amaro Domínguez, Escamilla's right arm and architect of the Imperial victories along the border with USSA and CSA

In Febuary, despite the difficult progression, the Mexican Imperial Army successfully take control of Monterrey, the self proclaimed capital of the rebel army. Under the command of Major General Joaquín Amaro Domínguez, a prosiming army officer... The two weeks battle involved almost the whole Imperial Army and the entire rebel force. At the end, the battle allowed the royalists to show to the world that they were not yet defeated and that the war will go on until the destruction of the rebel army.

Saltillo before the war, a modern and developed city.

March saw the fall of Saltillo to the hands of the Imperial regime. Again lead to victory by Major General Domínguez, this victory secured the conquest of Monterrey and forced Revolutionary Mexico to adopt a defensive strategy in the area to keep under control the last key city they still hold, Ciudad Juarez. After this battle, the two CS divisions of volunteers were sent south to drive the rebels out of the area near Culiacan Rosales.

USS Army involved in a street fight in Rosario during the Battle of Culiacan Rosales

In April, the bloodiest and possibly the most known battle of the Mexican Civil War began when CS forces attacked the town of Rosario near Culiacan Rosales. The initial attack was quickly repelled and the battle slowly bogged down. Both sides were entrenched inside the small towns surrounding Culican Rosales and street fighting were common. In the end, the royalists will only enter the city of Culiacan Rosales when the cease-fire entered into force at the end of the war.

Mexican Imperial Army soldiers captured by the rebels in Rosario

In May, the battle in Rosario turned in favor of the USS forces and after a massive attack suported by air support, the CS volunteers were drive out of the town. During two weeks, the royalist army retreated 50 kilometers and only the intervention on the mobilized Imperial Police 20 days after the initial breakthrough successfully stopped the advance of the USS forces. This battle, known as the sixth battle of Culiacan Rosales, almost turned the tide of the war in favor of Revolutionary Mexico.

Mexican cavalry in 1940, mouted units were a key element in the Imperial Army strategy until the 50s

Finally, on june 3rd 1937, to general surprise, the Imperial government in México City announced the end of the fightings. Indeed, the day before, the last significant stronghold of the rebels, Ciudad Juarez, had fell. The architect of this fast victory was, again, Major General Joaquín Amaro Domínguez. He used his two cavalry divisions following the French doctrine of the Groupes d'assaut. In France, they did not planned to use cavalry for this duty but the customized version used by Domínguez was deadly effective against the rebels. The Mexican Civil War had lasted less than 7 months.

A manunt was launched to find the hideout of the two revolutionary leaders, Lázaro Cárdenas and Emiliano Zapata. Both were wanted for treason and the Imperial authorities (and above all, Escamilla) were eager to shut'em up for good.

However, nobody seemed to know where they were...
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[Gukpa]

VIVA EL IMPERADOR!

 

[Attalus]

And now the Red traitors hide, surely in the North in the USSA!
Rebuild the nation and prepare for the oncoming storm!