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Miguel Hidalgo
1753-1811
A manuscript image of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.
Allegiance	Mexico
Service/branch	Revolutionary Army
Years of service	1809-1811
Rank	General
Commands held	Mexican Army of Insurgency
Battles/wars	Mexican War of Independence/Battle of Monte de las Cruces

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (May 8, 1753 – July 30, 1811) or Miguel Hidalgo was a Roman Catholic priest in Mexico and revolutionary rebel leader. He is regarded by most Mexican people as the "Father of the Country" and was the founder of the Mexican War of Independence movement which fought for independence from Spain in the early 19th century, although he did not live to see Mexico gain its independence.

[edit] Early life

Hidalgo y Costilla was born in Pénjamo, Guanajuato,^[1] to a criollo family (historically, a Mexican of unmixed Spanish ancestry). According to his baptism certificate, his parents were Don Cristobal Hidalgo y Costilla and Doña Ana Maria Gallaga Mandarte. Growing up in an hacienda, where his father Cristóbal Hidalgo y Costilla was employed as a superintendent, Hidalgo y Costilla developed an early sympathy for the unskilled Amerindian workers. He attended El Colegio de San Nicolas de Valladolid and studied philosophy. He presents himself as a man of unusual physical and intellectual energy. Examples of his atypical behavior for that time period would include reading Moliere and protesting Catholicism. His rebellion or practical jokes involved hiding the wafers during mass and practicing fornification with many women over the years.One of these mistresses, Josefa Quintanilla, he had two children, a son and a daughter. He adopted ideas which stemmed from Jean-Jacques Rousseau; Hidalgo also believed in the ideals of the "French Liberty." At his home, which adoopted the nickname "Little France," Hidalgo had austentatious parties involving theater, card playing, and discussions about church rituals relating to the Inquisition.

Hidalgo trained as a priest, and was finally ordained in 1789 in Dolores, Guanajuato. He had been educated in Latin literature,theology,rhetoric,logic,ethics,Italian, and French. He also could speak two native languages Nahuatl and Otomi. He retained an interest in political and social questions, which he carried with him to his first parish in the town of Dolores, now called Dolores Hidalgo, in the modern-day central state of Guanajuato. His unusual interests in the economic advancement of his parishioners soon garnered suspicion from Spanish authority. This interest marked Hidalgo as a possible activist. He learned several indigenous Amerindian languages, wrote texts in the Nahuatl (Aztec) language and organized the local communities in Michoacán.

organizations began to emerge, expressing a variety of radical views, discontented against the French political leadership; and issues of Spanish oppression in the Spanish Empire. Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest of unconventional views, attended one such provincial group in Guanajuato. It was there that educated criollos started conspiring for a large-scale uprising of mestizos and indigenous Amerindian peasants.

[edit] Uprising

A statue of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in front of his church at Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato.

Napoleon invaded Spain capturing Ferdinand VII which caused the birth of the seperatist movements. This invasion caused an uproar in Spain leaving the New World detached until they dealt with issues in their homeland. In 1808, Spain was invaded by French troops, and Napoleon forced the abdication of King Ferdinand VII of Spain in favour of the French emperor's brother Joseph Bonaparte, prompting the Spanish colonial government to oppose the new king. Many Mexicans became divided and formed secret organizations; some supporting King Ferdinand VII, and others desiring independence from Spain. It is impossible to say exactly when Hidalgo turned his thoughts towards rebellion against the colonial power, but the break is thought to have come sometime after Bonaparte replaced Ferdinand on the throne of Spain. This detachment allowed the ingredients of the revolt to stir creating the ideologies that would come in Latin America.

By 1809, Hidalgo's sense of discontent was turning openly into revolutionary politics, and the possibility of an uprising against the colonial government of what was then the Viceroyalty of New Spain. He was joined by Ignacio Allende, a career military officer from the nearby town of San Miguel, also a criollo, who was frustrated by the inherent chauvinism in the colonial administration, which preferred the advancement of Spaniards and foreign immigrants, rather than criollos born in Mexico, no matter how "pure" their blood was. The fall of King Ferdinand VII of Spain created a void which Allende and other ambitious criollos were determined to fill.

On the late night of September 15, 1810, Hidalgo y Costilla and Allende received a message of warning from Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, that the Spanish colonial authorities had intelligence of the rebellion, and were on the move. Josefa had said to Hidalgo these lines: "On the heel of these words come the threat of prison and death. Tommorrow you will be a hero or you will be a prisoner." Just before the dawn of September 16, Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bells of his church in the village of Dolores. Many parishioners, indigenous Amerindians and mestizos had been coming in from the surrounding countryside, expecting to hear mass; instead they heard a call to arms. He made a speech known as Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores")^[2], in which he demanded independence. This speech in his parish sparked the struggle for independence in Mexico on September 16,1810. Hidalgo called on his people to expel all foreign invaders and rulers out of Mexico, so that Mexicans could govern their own country. His speech although small, contained a religious influence with parts such as "God will protect you" and "Long live la Virgen de Guadalupe". Flyers had been written that slandered the Spanish and they were tied up and mounted on donkeys in the early stages of the uprising. After his powerful speech,in 1811, he began to lead a rebellion of Indian peasants and mesticos against the Spanish colonial rule.

[edit] The Inquisition

The Inquisition, which was an agency of the Church created under the sole purpose of verifing that the doctine was being followed by all its members, had investigated Hidalgo since 1800. This investigation was due to the fact that he was accused to be a priest who did not follow the doctrine rigorously. His first investigation started because Fray Joaquin Huesca, from the order of Merced, charged him for "unorthodox utterances." After this charges were made, the case was handed to Fray Manuel Estrada and it took him over a year and the help various witnesses to try to prove that he was not following the Church's doctrine. Everything was shown to the fiscal on September 18, 1801 and he concluded the case on October 2 by dissmising the accusation mainly because Fray Estrada had a reputation of being a liar. Similar cases occurred on July 1807, May 1808 and March 1809, and they again questioned Hidalgo's principles and his beliefs. On October 13th, 1810, Hidalgo is again subject of importance to the Inquisition and due to it they publish an edict which prosecutes him as a heretic and all the previous cases that had been made against him "were put forward as absolut facts." His excommunication came later that year after he was found guilty of all the charges that were put against him.

[edit] Revolution and War of Independence

Dolores Hidalgo Church at night.

Under the leadership of Miguel Hidalgo, a rebel army mobilized and gathered into the Mexican town of Dolores on the dawn of September 16, 1810. He used the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe as an iconic symbol so emulate the spiritual belief system that they have valued. The color of her skin was an association to the poor because of the similiar tones. This image also allowed people to believe that she was their representation as they fought against the white devils. Hildago had another image for his revolution. He had pictured it as something like the French Revolution which would have a "total social, economic, and ideological transformation." In order to do this Hildago was ready to go to any length for his pursuit. In the summer of 1810, Hidalgo began to utilize local craftsman shops to create military material to be used in combat. These weapons included slings, machetes, and lances. Miguel Hidalgo had just earlier been warned that his conspiracy against the Spanish regime had been discovered. Hidalgo and militia Captain Ignacio Allende had begun this rebellion expecting it to be a short battle due to the high patriotism of his people. He believed that their jealousy and hatred toward the Spanish would be enough to fuel their desire to win swiftly. Although a lot of indigenous people and mestizos joined the rebellion, The Creoles were always observing and criticizing the movement. Hidalgo desparetely wanted the Creoles to join for their independence, but he would never have any more than one hundred people. He spoke before the people of Dolores crying out that they must break out into war against the gachupines, cheering "Long live America! Death to the gachupines! Down with the foul government!" Once the Spanish government was aware of the moving mob, they sent out an army to head them off and begged the Indians not to enlist in the revolution. The army marched to the city of Guanajuato, a major colonial mining center, where Spanish governor Antonio Riaño attempted to organize a defensive strategy. He was only able to assemble some 500 Creole and Spanish soldiers against Hidalgo's proclaimed Amerindian and mestizo army of 50,000 soldiers. He promised the Spaniards to disarm if they surrendered to him...but of course this wasn't the case. The town fell to the onslaught on September 28, during which many of the Spaniards and Creoles were massacred at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. It was this rebellion that won Hidalgo the name of Mexico's revolutionary symbol. Other patriots were encouraged by the swiftness of the insurrection. But his military strategy was lacking, and he had very little control over his troops. Hildalgo refered to himself as Generalisimo, other titles include "Captain-General of America" and was to be addressed as "Serene Highness." October 30, Hidalgo's troops march toward Mexico City. Near the City, Hidalgo's force fought with Royalist forces at Monte de las Cruces. Hidalgo won, but lost a good deal of suppiles. He could have marched on Mexico City, but choose to retreat, thus ending any hope of an immidate independence.

Of course there were consequences for Hidalgo's brave uprising, and he was ordered by Spanish government to appear before the tribunal within thirty days. When he ignored the demand, Hidalgo was excommunicated along with his followers, under accusation of heresy.

Meanwhile, the army settled in Guadalajara, Mexico in order to solidify political ideology that they were moving for. On January 17, 1811, the battle between the royalists and insurgents erupted. Hidalgo's army outnumbered that of the Spaniards, but a grass fire broke out among the insurgents and disabled their army, allowing the Spaniards to utterly defeat them. It was during this year that the Spanish crown had presented a military cause against Miguel Hidalgo. The insurgent leaders were hereafter captured and taken to be tried and executed. Miguel Hidalgo himself was accused of high treason against the government and the Church, but he apologized for the slaughter that he had brought upon the Mexican people. Despite his sincerity, only days later Hidalgo was executed as well and his head displayed in an iron cage at Guanajuato.

[edit] Defeat and execution

A painting of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, by José Clemente Orozco, Jalisco Governmental Palace, Guadalajara.

Calleja, with an enhanced army, followed in close pursuit, finally forcing Hidalgo y Costilla and Allende to make a stand on the banks of the Calderón River, where the Battle of the Bridge of Calderón was fought on the morning of January 16, 1811. Although small in numbers, Calleja's soldiers were still heavily armed. Hidalgo, moreover, had poorly organized his army, ignoring the advice of the more experienced Allende. Under sustained attack by the Spanish cavalry, infantry and artillery, the rebel army collapsed in panic, prompting a Spanish victory.

Allende had grown increasingly frustrated with Hidalgo y Costilla during the campaign, a mood that was compounded by the murderous indiscipline of the criollo, Amerindian and mestizo army. He promptly relieved his leader of command, and carried him northwards with his remaining force, towards the United States-Mexican border, where he hoped to buy arms. However, on March 21, they were betrayed and handed to the Spanish army, and taken prisoner. Hidalgo was captured by a royalist officer in Chihuahua after trying to flee north. When captured he was given a "military and ecclesiastical trial."

Spot where Hidalgo was executed in the Government Palace of Chihuahua. Mural by Aaron Piña Mora.

Four leaders of the revolution, including Hidalgo y Costilla, Allende, José Mariano Jiménez and Juan Aldama, were held in the Federal Palace of Chihuahua. Prior to his death, Hidalgo thanked his jailers for their humane treatment of him and expressed regret for the bloodshed unleashed by the revolt, though he remained firm in his conviction that Mexico must be freed. He was wrote a confession for the Church and begged forgiveness of God for his revolt. He also apologized to European and American deaths caused by his insurrection. He claimed that his actions were humanitarian and that he did not understand the power behind the indigenous people to annihilate the Spaniards. After listening to his plea the court sentenced him to death for treason, by a firing squad along with his fellow leaders. They executed by two rounds of a firing squad; Allende, Jiménez and Aldama on June 26, 1811 and Hidalgo on July 30, 1811 at Chihuahua's Government Palace. After their execution the corpses of the four leaders were decapitated and their heads were placed on the four corners of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in Guanajuato, with the intention of intimidating the insurgents. Following the death of Hidalgo, one of his surviving soldiers, José María Morelos y Pavón assumed leadership of the army and continued the war of independence.

Hidalgo and the other three leaders heads remained on display in Guanajuato until 1821, when Mexico finally won its independence. Hidalgo y Costilla's decapitated body was disinterred from his burial place in the San Francisco Temple in Chihuahua and re-buried in Mexico City after independence had been achieved.

[edit] Mexico's Independence

After Hidalgo was executed, the revolution was not squelched. The people of Mexico still desperately wanted freedom from the Spanish crown. The newly available leadership of the insurgency was passed to priest Jose' Maria Morelos. He was a strong supporter of the abolition of Indian slavery and fought for agrarian reform. He presented the idea that Mexico should have the right to create their own government. Contrary to the prior distinction between mulattoes, mestizos, and Indians, Morelos established that there was to be one people of Mexico...the Americans.

In 1813, congress finally declared Mexico independent from Spanish rule, and agreed to abolish slavery. Following the newly glorifying independence, Mexico adopted its own constitution and created a system of indirect elections and legislature, and began to create their new state of sovereignty. Spain recognized Mexico as an independent nation until 1821, when they signed the Act of Independence of the Mexican Empire

[edit] Legacy

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is a national hero of Mexico and considered to be the father of independence in Mexico. In his honor, the state of Hidalgo and city of Dolores Hidalgo are named for him, as is the international airport in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Hidalgo's image is portrayed on the 1000 peso note, and, in addition, a monument to his honor stands on the periphery of the Walled City in Manila, the Philippines. In the United States, Hidalgo County, Texas, and Hidalgo County, New Mexico, are named in his honor.

Every year on the late night of September 15, just before the dawn of September 16, Mexico's president re-enacts the event by ringing the bells of the National Palace in Mexico City and repeats a cry of patriotism to all Mexicans, based upon the Grito de Dolores. September 16 is celebrated as Mexico's Independence Day.

[edit] See also

• History of Mexico

[edit] References

[edit] Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla

• Chasteen, John Charles. Americanos. Oxford: University Press,2008.
• Hamill, Hugh M."Early Pyshcological Warfare in the Hidalgo Revolt." The Hispanic American

Historical Review. vol.41 (1961): 206-235.Jstor.Duke University Press. Roanoke College, Va. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.jstor.org>.

• Fehrenbach, T.R. Fire and Blood: A History of Mexico. New York: Da Capo Press, 1995.
• Noll, Arthur Howard and A. Phillip McMahon. "The Life and Time of Miguel Hidalgo Y Costilla."

Bulletin of the American Geographical Society Vol.43 (1911):374.Jstor. Roanoke College. Va. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.jstor.org>.

• Joseph, Gilbert M. and Timothy J. Henderson. Ed. The Mexico Reader: History, Culture,Politics. London: Duke University Press, 2002.
• “Portal de la Independencia.” Fundación Archivo General de la Nación. 8 Nov 2008 <http://www.agn.gob.mx/independencia/index1.html>.
• “Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.” World Political Leaders. ABC-CLIO Interactive (2001)eLibrary. Proquest CSA. Roanoke College. VA. 04 Dec 2008 <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.
• Simpson, Lesley Byrd. Many Mexicos. Los Angeles: University of California, 1966.
• Tutino, John. "Regional Diversity and National Unity in the Era of Mexican Independence." Latin American Research Review. Vol 15 (1980):225-230.Jstor. Roanoke College. VA. 9 Nov 2008 <Http://www.jstor.org>.
• Archer, Christon I., ed. The Birth of Modern Mexico, 1780-182. Wilmington: Scholarly Resources Inc., 2003. ISBN 9780842051262
• Hamill, Hugh M. Jr. The Hidalgo Revolt: Prelude to Mexican Independence. University of Florida Press, 1966.
• Hamnett, Brian R. A Concise History of Mexico. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN 9780521581202 and ISBN 9780521589161
• Crow, John A. The Epic of Latin America. Fourth Edition. London, England: University of California Press 1992. ISBN 0520077237
• Skidmore, Thomas E. & Smith, Peter H. Modern Latin America. New York: Oxford University Press 2005. ISBN 139780195170122; ISBN 9780195170139

[edit] External links

• Tuck, Jim. "History Of Mexico - Miguel Hidalgo: The Father Who Fathered A Country". Mexico Connect, 1999.
• "Hidalgo's Call For Mexican Independence". MEXonline.com.
• Coordinación Nacional para las Conmemoraciones del 2010
• Archivo General de la Nación