Cinco de Mayo

El Cinco de Mayo ("Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national celebration in Mexico. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Mexico - Ignacio Zaragoza - French - Battle of Puebla - May 5 - 1862

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Under the pretext of forcing payment for Mexico's outstanding and crippling debt, Britain, Spain and France sent troops to Mexico. The democratically elected government of President Benito Juárez made agreements with the British and the Spanish, who promptly recalled their armies, but the French stayed, thus beginning the period of the French intervention in Mexico. Emperor Napoleon III wanted to secure French dominance in the former Spanish colony, including installing one of his relatives, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.

Related Topics:
Britain - Spain - France - Benito Juárez - French intervention in Mexico - Napoleon III - Archduke Maximilian of Austria

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