The Pastry War (Spanish: Guerra de los pasteles; French: Guerre des Pâtisseries), also known as the first French intervention in Mexico or the first Franco-Mexican war (1838–1839), began in November 1838 with the naval blockade of some Mexican ports and the capture of the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa in the port of Veracruz by French forces sent by King Louis Philippe I. It ended in March 1839 with a British-brokered peace. The intervention followed many claims by French nationals of losses due to unrest in Mexico. This would be the first of two French invasions of Mexico; a second, larger intervention would take place in the 1860s.[1]
Pastry War
Épisode de l'expédition du Mexique en 1838, Horace Vernet
Date
27 November 1838 – 9 March 1839 (3 months, 1 week and 3 days)
During the early years of the new Mexican republic there was widespread civil disorder as factions competed for control of the country. The fighting often resulted in the destruction or looting of private property. Average citizens had few options for claiming compensation as they had no representatives to speak on their behalf. Foreigners whose property was damaged or destroyed by rioters or bandits were usually also unable to obtain compensation from the Mexican government and they began to appeal to their own governments for help and compensation.
Commercial relationships between France and Mexico existed prior to Spain's recognition of Mexico's independence in 1830, and after the establishment of diplomatic relationships France rapidly became Mexico's third largest trade partner. However, French goods were subject to higher taxes as France had yet to secure trade agreements similar to as had been established by the United States and United Kingdom, Mexico's two largest trade partners.[2]
In a complaint to King Louis-Philippe, a French pastry chef known only as Monsieur Remontel claimed that in 1832 Mexican officers looted his shop in Tacubaya (then a town on the outskirts of Mexico City). However, Mexican sources claim that the officers, from Santa Anna's government, simply refused to pay for their bills. Remontel demanded 60,000 pesos as reparations for the damage (his shop was valued at less than 1,000 pesos).[3][4][5][6]
In view of Remontel's complaint (which gave its name to the ensuing conflict) and of other complaints from French nationals (among them the looting in 1828 of French shops at the Parian market and the execution in 1837 of a French citizen accused of piracy), in 1838 prime minister Louis-Mathieu Molé demanded from Mexico the payment of 600,000 pesos (3 million Francs) in damages,[2][4] an enormous sum for the time, when the typical daily wage in Mexico City was about one peso (8 Mexican reals).
With trade cut off, the Mexicans began smuggling imports in Mexico via Corpus Christi (then part of the Republic of Texas). Fearing that France would blockade the Republic's ports as well, a battalion of Texan forces began patrolling Corpus Christi Bay to stop Mexican smugglers. One smuggling party abandoned their cargo of about a hundred barrels of flour on the beach at the mouth of the bay, thus giving Flour Bluff its name. The United States soon sent the schooner Woodbury to help the French in their blockade. [6][7]
Meanwhile, acting without explicit government authority, Antonio López de Santa Anna, known for his military leadership, came out of retirement from his hacienda named "Manga de Clavo" near Xalapa and surveyed the defenses of Veracruz. He offered his services to the government, which ordered him to fight the French by any means necessary. He led Mexican forces against the French and fought at the Battle of Veracruz (1838). In a skirmish with the rear guard of the French, Santa Anna was wounded in the leg by French grapeshot. His leg was amputated and buried with full military honors.[8] Exploiting his wounds with eloquent propaganda, Santa Anna catapulted back to power.
Peace restorededit
The French forces withdrew on 9 March 1839 after a peace treaty was signed. As part of said treaty the Mexican government agreed to pay 600,000 pesos as damages to French citizens while France received promises for future trade commitments in place of war indemnities. However, this amount was never paid and that was later used as one of the justifications for the second French intervention in Mexico of 1861.[3][1]
Following the Mexican victory in 1867 and the collapse of the Second French Empire in 1870, Mexico and France would not resume diplomatic relationships until 1880 when both countries renounced claims related to the wars.[5][9]
^ abPenot, Jacques (1973). "L'expansion commerciale française au Mexique et les causes du conflit franco-mexicain de 1838–1839". Bulletin Hispanique. 75: 169–201. doi:10.3406/hispa.1973.4100.
^ ab"Los Pasteles Más Caros de la Historia", Instituto Nacional de Estudios Históricos de las Revoluciones de México October 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^ ab"Acuerdo entre México y Francia pone fin a la Guerra de los Pasteles". Plumas Libres. March 9, 2015.
^ abCoerver, Don M. Mexico Today: An Encyclopedia of Contemporary History and Culture. ABC-Clio, p. 135. ISBN978-157-607-1328.
^ abKlein, Christopher. "The Pastry War, 175 Years Ago".
^Nofi, Albert A. (21 March 1994). The Alamo and the Texas War for Independence. Da Capo Press. ISBN0-306-80563-4.
^"Santa Anna's Leg", The Orange Leader (Orange, Texas) November 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^Velázquez Flores, Rafael (2007). Factores, Bases y Fundamentos de la Política Exterior de México. Plaza y Valdés, p. 117. ISBN970-722-473-8.
External linksedit
Media related to Pastry War at Wikimedia Commons
February 16, 2024
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The Pastry War Spanish Guerra de los pasteles French Guerre des Patisseries also known as the first French intervention in Mexico or the first Franco Mexican war 1838 1839 began in November 1838 with the naval blockade of some Mexican ports and the capture of the fortress of San Juan de Ulua in the port of Veracruz by French forces sent by King Louis Philippe I It ended in March 1839 with a British brokered peace The intervention followed many claims by French nationals of losses due to unrest in Mexico This would be the first of two French invasions of Mexico a second larger intervention would take place in the 1860s 1 Pastry WarEpisode de l expedition du Mexique en 1838 Horace VernetDate27 November 1838 9 March 1839 3 months 1 week and 3 days LocationVeracruz MexicoResultFrench victoryBelligerents France Mexican RepublicCommanders and leadersCharles BaudinSanta AnnaStrength3 0003 229 1 fortCasualties and losses121 killed and wounded224 killed and wounded 1 fort captured Contents 1 Background 2 Chronology 3 Peace restored 4 Notes 5 External linksBackground editDuring the early years of the new Mexican republic there was widespread civil disorder as factions competed for control of the country The fighting often resulted in the destruction or looting of private property Average citizens had few options for claiming compensation as they had no representatives to speak on their behalf Foreigners whose property was damaged or destroyed by rioters or bandits were usually also unable to obtain compensation from the Mexican government and they began to appeal to their own governments for help and compensation Commercial relationships between France and Mexico existed prior to Spain s recognition of Mexico s independence in 1830 and after the establishment of diplomatic relationships France rapidly became Mexico s third largest trade partner However French goods were subject to higher taxes as France had yet to secure trade agreements similar to as had been established by the United States and United Kingdom Mexico s two largest trade partners 2 Chronology edit nbsp Charles Baudin admiral of France nbsp French troops under Prince de Joinville attack the residence of General Arista in Veracruz 1838 Painting by Pharamond Blanchard In a complaint to King Louis Philippe a French pastry chef known only as Monsieur Remontel claimed that in 1832 Mexican officers looted his shop in Tacubaya then a town on the outskirts of Mexico City However Mexican sources claim that the officers from Santa Anna s government simply refused to pay for their bills Remontel demanded 60 000 pesos as reparations for the damage his shop was valued at less than 1 000 pesos 3 4 5 6 In view of Remontel s complaint which gave its name to the ensuing conflict and of other complaints from French nationals among them the looting in 1828 of French shops at the Parian market and the execution in 1837 of a French citizen accused of piracy in 1838 prime minister Louis Mathieu Mole demanded from Mexico the payment of 600 000 pesos 3 million Francs in damages 2 4 an enormous sum for the time when the typical daily wage in Mexico City was about one peso 8 Mexican reals When President Anastasio Bustamante made no payment the French king ordered a fleet under Rear Admiral Charles Baudin to declare and carry out a blockade of all Mexican ports on the Gulf of Mexico from Yucatan to the Rio Grande to bombard the Mexican fortress of San Juan de Ulua and to seize the city of Veracruz which was the most important port on the Gulf coast French forces captured Veracruz by December 1838 and Mexico declared war on France With trade cut off the Mexicans began smuggling imports in Mexico via Corpus Christi then part of the Republic of Texas Fearing that France would blockade the Republic s ports as well a battalion of Texan forces began patrolling Corpus Christi Bay to stop Mexican smugglers One smuggling party abandoned their cargo of about a hundred barrels of flour on the beach at the mouth of the bay thus giving Flour Bluff its name The United States soon sent the schooner Woodbury to help the French in their blockade 6 7 Meanwhile acting without explicit government authority Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna known for his military leadership came out of retirement from his hacienda named Manga de Clavo near Xalapa and surveyed the defenses of Veracruz He offered his services to the government which ordered him to fight the French by any means necessary He led Mexican forces against the French and fought at the Battle of Veracruz 1838 In a skirmish with the rear guard of the French Santa Anna was wounded in the leg by French grapeshot His leg was amputated and buried with full military honors 8 Exploiting his wounds with eloquent propaganda Santa Anna catapulted back to power Peace restored editThe French forces withdrew on 9 March 1839 after a peace treaty was signed As part of said treaty the Mexican government agreed to pay 600 000 pesos as damages to French citizens while France received promises for future trade commitments in place of war indemnities However this amount was never paid and that was later used as one of the justifications for the second French intervention in Mexico of 1861 3 1 Following the Mexican victory in 1867 and the collapse of the Second French Empire in 1870 Mexico and France would not resume diplomatic relationships until 1880 when both countries renounced claims related to the wars 5 9 Notes edit a b The Mexican Campaign 1862 1867 Fondation Napoleon a b Penot Jacques 1973 L expansion commerciale francaise au Mexique et les causes du conflit franco mexicain de 1838 1839 Bulletin Hispanique 75 169 201 doi 10 3406 hispa 1973 4100 a b Los Pasteles Mas Caros de la Historia Instituto Nacional de Estudios Historicos de las Revoluciones de Mexico Archived October 18 2013 at the Wayback Machine a b Acuerdo entre Mexico y Francia pone fin a la Guerra de los Pasteles Plumas Libres March 9 2015 a b Coerver Don M Mexico Today An Encyclopedia of Contemporary History and Culture ABC Clio p 135 ISBN 978 157 607 1328 a b Klein Christopher The Pastry War 175 Years Ago Nofi Albert A 21 March 1994 The Alamo and the Texas War for Independence Da Capo Press ISBN 0 306 80563 4 Santa Anna s Leg The Orange Leader Orange Texas Archived November 4 2013 at the Wayback Machine Velazquez Flores Rafael 2007 Factores Bases y Fundamentos de la Politica Exterior de Mexico Plaza y Valdes p 117 ISBN 970 722 473 8 External links edit nbsp Media related to Pastry War at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pastry War amp oldid 1200704314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
