Biography of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico

Biography of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico Maximilian I  (July 6, 1832–June 19, 1867) was a European nobleman invited to Mexico in the aftermath of the disastrous wars and conflicts of the mid-19th century. It was thought that the establishment of a monarchy, with a leader possessing a tried-and-true European bloodline, could bring some much-needed stability to the strife-torn nation. Maximilian arrived in 1864 and was accepted by the people as Emperor of Mexico. His rule did not last very long, however, as liberal forces under the command of Benito Juarez destabilized Maximilian’s rule. Captured by Juarez’ men, he was executed in 1867. Fast Facts: Maximilian I Known For: Emperor of MexicoAlso Known As: Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph Maria, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph von Hapsburg-LorraineBorn: July 6, 1832 in Vienna,  AustriaParents: Archduke Franz Karl of Austria, Princess Sophie of BavariaDied: June 19, 1867 in Santiago de Querà ©taro, MexicoSpouse: Charlotte of BelgiumNotable Quote: Oh, God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. Early Years Maximilian of Austria was born in Vienna on July 6, 1832, the grandson of Francis II, Emperor of Austria. Maximilian and his elder brother Franz Joseph grew up as proper young princes: a classical education, riding, travel. Maximilian distinguished himself as a bright, inquisitive young man, and a good rider, but he was sickly and often unwell. Aimless Years In 1848, a series of events in Austria conspired to place Maximilian’s elder brother Franz Joseph on the throne at the young age of 18. Maximilian spent a lot of time away from court, mostly on Austrian naval vessels. He had money but no responsibilities, so he traveled a great deal, including a visit to Spain, and had affairs with actresses and dancers. He fell in love twice, once to a German countess who was deemed beneath him by his family, and a second time to a Portuguese noblewoman who was also a distant relation. Although Marà ­a Amalia of Braganza was considered acceptable, she died before they could become engaged. Admiral and Viceroy In 1855, Maximilian was named rear-admiral of the Austrian navy. In spite of his inexperience, he won over the career naval officers with open-mindedness, honesty, and zeal for the job. By 1857, he had modernized and improved the navy greatly and had founded a hydrographical institute. He was appointed viceroy of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, where he lived with his new wife, Charlotte of Belgium. In 1859, he was dismissed from his post by his brother, and the young couple went to live in their castle near Trieste. Overtures from Mexico Maximilian was first approached in 1859 with an offer to be made Emperor of Mexico: He initially refused, preferring to travel some more, including a botanical mission to Brazil. Mexico was still in shambles from the Reform War and had defaulted on its international debts. In 1862, France invaded Mexico, seeking payment for these debts. By 1863, French forces were firmly in command of Mexico and Maximilian was approached again. This time he accepted. Emperor Maximilian and Charlotte arrived in Mexico in May 1864 and set up their official residence at Chapultepec Castle. Maximilian inherited a very unstable nation. The conflict between conservatives and liberals, which had caused the Reform War, still simmered and Maximilian was unable to unite the two factions. He angered his conservative supporters by adopting some liberal reforms, and his overtures to liberal leaders were spurned. Benito Juarez and his liberal followers grew in strength, and there was little Maximilian could do about it. Downfall When France withdrew its forces back to Europe, Maximilian was on his own. His position grew ever more precarious, and Charlotte returned to Europe to ask (in vain) for aid from France, Austria, and Rome. Charlotte never returned to Mexico: Driven mad by the loss of her husband, she spent the rest of her life in seclusion before passing away in 1927. By 1866, the writing was on the wall for Maximilian: His armies were in disarray and he had no allies. He stuck it out nevertheless, apparently due to a genuine desire to be a good ruler of his new nation. Death and Repatriation Mexico City fell to liberal forces in early 1867, and Maximilian retreated to Querà ©taro, where he and his men withstood a siege for several weeks before surrendering. Captured, Maximilian was executed along with two of his generals on June 19, 1867. He was 34 years old. His body was returned to Austria the next year, where it currently resides in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. Legacy Today Maximilian is considered somewhat of a quixotic figure by Mexicans. He had no business being Emperor of Mexico- he apparently didn’t even speak Spanish- but he put forth a solid effort to rule the country, and most modern Mexicans today think of him not as a hero or villain so much as a man who tried to unite a country that did not want to be united. The most lasting effect of his brief rule is Avenida Reforma, an important street in Mexico City that he had ordered built. Sources MadMonarchist. â€Å"Monarch Profile: Emperor Maximilian of Mexico.†Ã‚  The Mad Monarchist, 1 Jan. 1970.Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Maximilian.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 8 Feb. 2019.â€Å"MAXIMILIAN I, Emperor of Mexico.†Ã‚  MexicoOnline.com.

How to Write Compelling Personality Profiles

How to Write Compelling Personality Profiles The personality profile is an article about an individual, and profiles are one of the staples of feature writing. No doubt youve read profiles in newspapers, magazines or websites. Profiles can be done on just about anyone whos interesting and newsworthy, whether its the local mayor or a rock star. Here are seven tips for producing great profiles. 1. Take the Time to Know Your Subject Too many reporters think they can produce quick-hit profiles where they spend a few hours with a subject and then bang out a quick story. That wont work. To really see what a person is like you need to be with him or her long enough so that they let their guard down and reveal their true selves. That wont happen in an hour or two. 2. Watch Your Subject in Action Want to know what a person is really like? Watch them doing what they do. If youre profiling a professor, watch him teach. A singer? Watch (and listen) to her sing. And so on. People often reveal more about themselves through their actions than their words, and watching your subject at work or play will give you lots of action-oriented description that will breathe life into your story. 3. Show the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly A profile shouldnt be a puff piece. It should be a window into who the person really is. So if your subject is warm and cuddly, fine, show that. But if theyre cold, arrogant and generally unpleasant, show that too. Profiles are most interesting when they reveal their subjects as real people, warts and all. 4. Talk to People Who Know Your Subject Too many beginning reporters think a profile is just about interviewing the subject. Wrong. Human beings usually lack the ability to objectively view themselves, so make a point of talking to people who know the person youre profiling. Talk to the persons friends and supporters, as well as their detractors and critics. As we said in tip no. 3, your goal is to produce a rounded, realistic portrait of your subject, not a press release. 5. Avoid Factual Overload Too many beginning reporters write profiles that are little more than an accretion of facts about the people they are profiling. But readers dont particularly care when someone was born, or what year they graduated from college. So yes, include some basic biographical information about your subject, but dont overdo it. 6. Avoid Chronologies Another rookie mistake is to write a profile as a chronological narrative, starting with the persons birth and plodding through their life up to the present. Thats boring. Take the good stuff- whatever it is that makes your profile subject interesting- and emphasize that right from the start. 7. Make a Point About Your Subject Once youve done all your reporting and gotten to know your subject reasonably well, dont be afraid to tell your readers what youve learned. In other words, make a point about what kind of person your subject is. Is your subject shy or aggressive, strong-willed or ineffectual, mild or hot-tempered? If you write a profile that doesnt say something definitive about its subject, then you havent done the job.