Evolution of the Mexian National Flag: Part 3

Imperio Mexicano (Mexican Empire): 1864-1867

Last modified: 2008-08-23 by juan manuel gabino villascán
Keywords: mexico | empire | empire (second) | maximilian | juárez (benito) | díaz (porfirio) | crown | eagle |
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	1:2 Official ratio since Nov. 1, 1865.
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, December 1, 2002.

Flag and coat of arms adopted:	By decree of June 18, 1864.
Flag and coat of arms confirmed:	By decree of November 1, 1865.
Flag and coat of arms abolished:	July 15, 1867; Reestablishment of the Supreme Republican Powers by Benito Juárez García.
Use:	On land, State flag; At sea, State ensign.
Note:	The Republican resistance headed by Benito Juárez García remained using the Republican Flag adopted in 1823, with a wide variety on the coat of arms design.

• Imperial coat of arms
• War flag and ensign, possibly civil flag
• Empress' standard
• Historial background and description of the Imperial flag

• 1864/1865-1867 Merchant ensign

• Evolution of the Mexican National Flag:
  • Introduction
  • Part 1: Mexican Empire: 1821-1823
  • Part 2: One flag, many variants: 1823-1864/1968
  • Part 3: Mexican Empire: 1864-1867
• Mexico - General Index
• Mexico

Imperial Coat of Arms

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, December 1, 2002.

The decree issued on November 1, 1865 describes the Imperial Arms as follows:

"(...) The Coat of Arms of the Empire is oval in shape in blue; in the center is depicted the eagle of Anahuac, in profile and passant, supported by a cactus, suported, in turn, by a rock sunk on water, and ripping a snake. The border is gold charged by a garland of encina and laurel. The crest it the Imperial Crown. As supporters, two griffin from our olders' arms, their upper hald in black and the lower in gold; behind the scepter and sword in saltire. The shield is surrounded by the collar of the Order of the "águila Mexicana", and the motto: "Equidad en la Justicia" (Equity on Justice) (...) [see detail]."

Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, December 1, 2002.

War flag and ensign
Possibly civil flag

	1:2 Official ratio since Nov. 1, 1865. or
by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, December 1, 2002.

It is also illustrated in Banderas y Escudos del Mundo [alv86]. The illustrations are on page 149 of [smi75c] and on page 22 of [alv86]. The apparent differences between the present flag and the flag of Maxmilian's regime were that an imperial crown (gold with red lining) appears above te image of an eagle grasping a rattlesnake, while perched on a cactus; the eagle was shown as viewed head on, with wings extended, rather than in profile; and there was no garland around the image. To make the image appear centered with the addition of the crown above, the eagle/snake/cactus was placed lower on the imperial flag than it appears on today’s flag.
Ned Smith, 26 Dec 1998

Empress' standard

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, December 1, 2002.

Historical background and description of the Imperial flag

On April 10th, 1865 Emperor Maximilian decided that the eagle be set affronty and imperially crowned again.
Santiago Dotor, 29 Dec 1998, summarizing from http://dyred.sureste.com/club/6febrero/24feb.htm (website no longer in use)

During the period of the French-supported Mexican Empire of Maximilian there were two national flags in use. The Mexican Republic of President Juárez used the traditional Mexican flag. The Emperor Maximilian’s government used a similar flag, but with a crown over the eagle's head. An illustration (or two?) can be seen in Whitney Smith's wonderful book, Flags Through the Ages and Across the World [smi75c].
Jamie Woods, 26 Dec 1998

The Imperial standard of archduke Maximilian of Austria, emperor of Mexico from 1863 to 1867. The grand arms in the middle are like those of imperial France. Which is no coincidence. Emperor Napoleon III introduced Mexicnas who looked for a European prince tot Maximillian and sponsored the Mexican Empire. Maximillian and his wife the Belgian princess Charlotte, were able and modern administrators. Unfortunately the Mexicans didn't recognise this. Maximillian was overthrown and murdered in 1867. Mexico fell back in lethargy, banditism and corruption. (Source: The arms: Siebmachers Wappenbuch; flag: painting of Maximillians departure from Miramar at the Adriatic).
The Imperial Warflag shows only the small arms.
Theo van der Zalm, July 21, 2000.

The eagle is not Napoleonic, but is the eagle with snake on the cactus which has always been the emblem of Mexico, differing from other forms by having a blue field and being crowned. Maximillian, though militarily dependent on Napoleon III, was anxious to establish his independence from France and the Catholic church and wanted to symbolize his Mexican character.
Norman Martin, July 24, 2000.