MAXIMILIAN, FERDINAND JosEett (183°_ 6i ). Archduke of Austria and Emperor of Mex ico. Ile was the second son of the Austrian Arch duke Franc-is Charles, and a brother to the Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria. Ile was liberally educated, became commander of the Austrian Navy in 1854. and later served with sueeess as Governor of Lombardy and Venetia. In 1862-63 the French troops of Napoleon 111. oc cupied the principal parts of Alexico. (See AIKNico; JuittEz.) An assembly of notables. named by the French commanders, was convened. and on July 10, 1863, this body offered the crown to 1laxinnilian, who as a Hapsburg represented the dynasty which had preeeded the 13ourbons upon the throne of Spain. Maximilian announced that he would accept only on condition that "the vote of the assembly of notables could be ratified by the Nlexican people in a general election. and that the European nations would give sufficient guarantees that the throne would be protected from clangers which might threaten it." The :\leNiean vote was easily secured by Marshal Ilazaine. and Napoleon signed the Treaty of Miramar. by which he hound himself to main tain the French army in Mexico until the army of the Empire should be thoroughly organized. on May 29 Maximilian, with the Empress Carlot ta, daughter of King Leopold of Belgium. landed at Vera Cruz. The new ruler that his mission was "the rejuvenation of Mexico." Unfortunately. he knew nothing of the eharaeter istics of the (mint ry Or of the people over whom he had POMP to rule. Anxious to conciliate all parties. he coon found himself without the cordial support of any. His desire to rule with mit the French led him to neglect their repre sentatives, until he suddenly realized that the foreign army. hated equally by all divisions of his subjects. was the only power really behind his throne. In despair of aeeomplishing anything by eonciliation, the Emperor was persuaded to issue a decree, Oetober 3. 1865, declaring that all persons hearing arms against his empire were bandits, and if caught would be tried by court martial and shot. Before the end of the month four highly esteemed Republican officers had been executed in accordance with this decree, and the last hope of popular support for ..\laximilian's rule had been destroyed. Meantime, the United States Government, relieved of its embarrass ments by the fall of the Confederacy, succeeded in convincing the French Emperor that his inter vention in Mexico would not be tolerated. In
consequence, on May 31, 1866, Maximilian re ceived dispatches announcing that all French troops would he withdrawn from Mexico. Maxi milian would probably have resigned at once had not the Empress Carlotta dissuaded him, undertaking to go to Europe and use her inllu ence with Napoleon III. She proceeded to Paris, where the Emperor at first refused to see her, and finally brutally asked her to leave France. The Pope gave her little better consolation, and she became hopelessly insane. (See CARLOTTA.) :Maximilian determined to abdicate, but the French commissioners sent by Napoleon III. were unable to agree to the terms which he stipulated, and eventually lie decided to accept the offer of Generals. Miramon and Marquez (qq.v.), who promised to raise a force sufficient to replace the French troops and maintain his empire. The Church Party urged the Emperor to remain. promising its support, and Maximilian estab lished his headquarters at Queridaro. There he was surrounded by the Republican army in the early part of March, 1867. On May 14th plans were wade for a sortie by which the Em peror might escape to Mexico City or to the coast. Before such plans could he carried out. Colonel Miguel Lopez, a constant favorite of the Emperor and Empress. and one who hail received many proofs of their generosity, informed the enemy of the plan and arranged to admit them into the Imperial camp. Maximilian and his generals were forced to surrender. and after a short Con finement were tried by a military conrt. The Emperor was accused of treason. usurpation of piddle power. filibustering. trying to prolong the civil war. and of signing the deeree of October :1, 1865. Ile was declared guilty and condemned to be shot, together with Generals Miramon and Mejia. The execution took place on the morn ing, of dune 19, 1867. The Emperor's body was eventually sin-rendered to the Austrian Govern ment, and now rests in the 'Imperial vault in Vienna. Maximilian was a prolific writer. and seven volumes of his prose and verse were pub lished in Vienna in 1867. Among the best ac counts of the I-nnerror are: Chynoweth. The Pall of llaximilian ( London. 1872). and Prince Salm Salm, hip Diary in llexieo in 1..z67 (Eng. trans..
1.0114 Ion. 1868). Hall's Life of .11aximilian 1. york. )865) is especially vnluable for its account of the legal aspects of the trial and exeeut ion.