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Benson Latin American Collection

Rare Books and Manuscripts

Inventory

Agustín de Iturbide Collection

Prepared by the Mexican Archives Project January 6, 1995

Introduction

The Agustín de Iturbide Collection, which forms part of the Genaro García Collection, was purchased by the University of Texas in 1921 from the heirs of Genaro García. The collection was described by the Benson Latin American Collection's Mexican Archives Project in December 1994.

The physical extent of the collection is six inches. The materials are in Spanish; their bulk dates are 1821-1824. The collection is also available on microfilm.

The following guide is available in Rare Books Reference: Castañeda, Carlos E. and Jack Autrey Dabbs, eds., Guide to the Latin American Manuscripts in the University of Texas Library. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1939.

The suggested citation for the collection is "Agustín de Iturbide Collection, 1813-1838, Benson Latin American Collection, General Libraries, University of Texas at Austin."

Biographical Sketch

First emperor of Mexico. Born 1783 in Valladolid (Morelia); executed July 19, 1824, in Padilla, Tamaulipas. Iturbide joined the army in 1800, by 1810 was fighting with the royalists, and by 1820 held the rank of colonel.

In February 1821 he and Vicente Guerrero signed the Plan de Iguala and created the Ejército Trigarante. In August 1821 Iturbide and viceroy Juan O'Donoju signed the Tratado de Córdoba, ending the war and giving Mexico independence. Iturbide was proclaimed emperor in May 1822 but by October was forced to dissolve the national congress because of resistance from the opposition. In March 1823 he reinstated congress, then abdicated and fled to Italy.

In April 1824 the congress, having already declared his administration void, revoked his pension and declared Iturbide a traitor. When he returned to Mexico in July 1824 he was apprehended on arrival in Tamaulipas and executed the next day. In 1838 Anastasio Bustamante declared Iturbide one of the "First Heroes of Mexican Independence."

Chronology

1783born in Valladolid (Morelia) to José Joaquín de Iturbide (wealthy Spaniard) and Josefa de Arámburu (Michoacan)
1798became a field laborer
1800enlisted as second lieutenant in Valladolid provincial regiment
1805married Ana María de Huarte. Cantonment of Jalapa.
1809Iturbide had some connection with conspiracy in Michelena, Valladolid
1810offered rank of lieutenant general by Hidalgo, Iturbide refused. Participated in battle of Monte de las Cruces. Fought in battle of independence for royalist forces.
1816accused but absolved on count of illicit operations
1820Iturbide had become a colonel in the royalist army
18212/24 - signed Plan de Iguala with Vicente Guerrero, created Ejército Trigarante
8/24 - O'Donojú & Iturbide signed Tratado de Córdoba
9/27 - Iturbide led Ejército Trigarante to victory?
18225/18 - Iturbide proclaimed emporer
5/19 - Iturbide emperorship ratified by congress
5/21 or 5/23 - Iturbide crowned emperor
Created Order of Guadalupe. Iturbide had much resistance from primarily republicans, some liberals.
10/31 - Iturbide dissolved congress
18231/24 - Santa Anna incited rebellion with Plan de Casa Mata
3/19 - Iturbide reinstated congress, abdicated
3/29 - Iturbide & family left residence in Tacubaya. From Veracruz sailed to Europe
8 - Arrived in Liorna, Italy. Stayed at Villa Fournier.
Went to Florence and England.
18244/8-28 - Congress revoked pension, declared Iturbide a traitor
5/4 - Iturbide left London for Mexico
6/14 - arrived in Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas. Apprehended by Congress of Tamaulipas and sentenced to death.
6/19 - Iturbide executed by firing squad in Padilla, Tamaulipas
183311/3 - Santa Anna had Iturbide's remains brought to Mexico City & displayed/interred with the First heroes of Independence
1838Anastasio Bustemante got congress to decree, retrospectively, Iturbide as a First Hero of Independence

Scope and Contents Note

Correspondence, printed material, official documents, and literary productions pertaining to Iturbide and Mexican political and military affairs from 1813 to 1838. Included are items concerning Antonio López de Santa Anna, Anastasio Bustamante and José Manuel de Herrera.

The Archives subgroup includes correspondence (bulk 1821) relating mostly to Iturbide's activities as Generalísimo Almirante (correspondents include political leaders such as Vicente Guerrero and Antonio Medina) and printed material, mostly proclamations issued by Iturbide's government but including leaflets from the opposition as well as periodicals and broadsides from 1838 announcing Iturbide's status as a "First Hero of Mexican Independence."

The Manuscripts subgroup comprises official documents including treaties and acts of Iturbide's government and of successor governments that relate to Iturbide (filed as G390); a photostat of a concordat between Iturbide and the Church (G406); a manuscript of Iturbide's memoir written in Italy, bound with leaflets and pamphlets relating to Iturbide (G414); and contemporary copies of letters from Juan Gómez Navarrete, Vicente Filisola, and José Dávila, among others (G388).

Subgroups and Series

The Agustín de Iturbide Collection was arranged into Archives and Manuscripts subgroups by earlier library staff. The series were created by Mexican Archives Project staff, which completed the processing of the collection in December 1994. The subgroups and series are:

I. Archives

  1. Correspondence, 1813-1823.

  2. Printed Materials, 1821-1838.

II. Manuscripts
1.G388 : Documentos relativos al Imperio de Iturbide, 1821-1824, (contemporary copies)
2.G390 : Documentos históricos, Don Agustín Iturbide, 1821-1827.
3.G406 : Proposed concordat between the Empire of Iturbide and the Church, c.1822.
4.G414 : Memoria escrita en Liorna a 27 de Sepbre. 1823, (ms. copy of Iturbide's memoirs). Bound with various pamphlets and leaftlets relating to Iturbide.

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