The Treaties of Córdoba
The Treaties of Córdoba
Version by Adriana Balmori Aguirre
Part 1. Background
The signing of the Treaties of Cordoba was a major event in the Independence of New Spain, and this year, its bicentenary, I want to highlight some curious and other important facts related to this historic event. In 1810 the group of American deputies in the Cortes of Cádiz, of which he was leader for his vast knowledge both political and theological and legal don Miguel Ramos Arizpe, deputy by his native Coahuila, and with him also the historian Lucas Alamán, theologian Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, representing Veracruz, Don Joaquín Maniau and Guanajuato Octaviano Obregón y Gómez -who would for that trip dissolve his engagement with Leona Vicario-, made their presence felt and the needs of New Spain. Most of them were already sailing with liberal and independentist ideas, ideas with which the 1812 Constitution, called “la Pepa”, was promulgated on 19 March in Cadiz, Andalucía, because it was the day of San José, but there were also those who attributed it to being a mockery of Joseph Bonaparte, whom his brother Napoleon had left the throne of Spain after invading it, and was nicknamed Pepe Botella, no doubt for his fondness for intoxicating drinks and his permanent state of drunkenness. When Fernando VII returned to the throne in 1814, his absolutist government dissolved the Cortes and ignored the Constitution of Cadiz; he imprisoned all those who had intervened in it and also those who had acted against him, among which was another liberal military, Juan O’Donojú and O’Ryan, who suffers by direct orders of the king the punishment of “dogs” that he liked to inflict on this turbid character, and consisted in breaking one by one all the fingers of each hand, In addition to the nails being torn off, O’Donoju was left deformed and crippled after the atrocious torment.
Later, and much to the King’s dismay, the Cortes met again and from there emancipatory ideas emerged, especially with knowledge of the situation in New Spain and the displeasure of the Criollos for the application of the new impositions.
Knowing the liberal ideas of Don Juan, the deputies pressed Fernando VII to give him the great charge no longer of viceroy, title that had been eliminated in the new constitution, but as Captain General and Political Chief of New Spain.
On 30 July 1821, coming from Cadiz aboard the frigate Asia, Juan de O’ Donojú arrives at the port of Veracruz; that day, as a bad fario and black foreboding shakes the earth, and adds to him a whole chain of misfortunes; they die almost immediately of black vomit, two fleshly nephews who accompanied him, 7 of his officers and 100 soldiers of the troop. Juan José Rafael Teodomiro O’Donojú y O’Ryan, was born in Seville Spain on 30 July 1762, of Irish origin on all four sides. Good student who showed military skills at a young age, joined the Spanish army at 20 years old, where he developed a brilliant career. He married Josefa Sánchez Barriga-Blanco, from a wealthy family of Sevillian merchants who own multiple businesses and customs deals both in the peninsula and in American lands.
When he arrives, he is informed that the Trigarant Army had already occupied the entire nation and many royalist chiefs and their troops had passed to the insurgent side, only Mexico remained the capital, Durango, the remote Chihuahua, Acapulco, Veracruz port and the Fortress of San Carlos in Perote as realist redoubts.
Never could the wretched O’Donoju imagine more deplorable conditions than anyone could have managed. Seeing the chaos of the realistic and almost lost cause, he decides to make a pact with Iturbide and sign the Independence of New Spain. Since in the capital the general Novella, who was in charge of the government, was de facto chief, without official appointment, since he had removed the command from the Viceroy Apodaca, O’Donojú takes the oath of law in the same port before the commander of this, the Gral. José Ma. Dávila, a recalcitrant realist, assumed at that time all the responsibilities that this office conferred on him.
Decides to contact Iturbide, the chief of the Trigarantes, and sends him two letters, one in official tone and form and another personal one in which he asks for a meeting to discuss the situation of New Spain, begging him to be somewhere more healthy and with better climatic conditions. Iturbide proposes the Villa de Córdoba and there is the appointment. The date is set for the morning of August 24.
Iturbide was doing well, after the supposed embrace of Acatempan and the elaboration and proclamation on February 24 of that year of the Iguala Plan, which had meant the meeting of insurgent and realistic armies in one, the Trigarant Army or the Three Guarantees, -Religion, Union and Independence-, the letters of O’Donojú rounded up their plans. He was about to turn 38, was born on September 27, 1783, in Valladolid, today Morelia. Enlisted as an honorary ensign in the provincial regiment of Valladolid. He is described as elegant and tall, gallant and gentle with the ladies, had a reputation of being the best rider on the best horse, good charro and rejoneador, mocked the bulls in the squares or danced light, always in impeccable uniform, was a party for young ladies and not-so-young ones. He married Ana Ma. Huarte, who contributed a very rich dowry to the marriage and left her alone for long periods for her military assignments, but every time she returned, she left her love fruit, ten children were born. Shrewd and intelligent, by the maternal branch was Villaseñor, and relative of the priest Hidalgo who proposed to join the armed struggle, which declined, as he would later say “because that revolution was poorly conceived, and could not produce more than disorder blood and destruction”, he was right. He continued to fight in the royalist ranks where he distinguished himself by his victories in battle, until his military genius and political ambition made him see that circumstances were propitious and he could be the architect of Independence.
Very well advised, he drew up his Plan for the Independence of North America with which he seduced Vicente Guerrero, in whom he undoubtedly felt a great deal when he heard talk of “equality”.
With this panorama, O’Donojú arrives in Córdoba on August 23 escorted by Antonio López de Santa Anna, where he is very well received and distinguished; in the afternoon, coming from Puebla, Iturbide arrives who is warmly acclaimed and celebrated, carried in his car already without a shot, drawn by a people eager to meet the creator and chief of the Trigarant Army; he, gallantly and courteously that very afternoon presents his respects to Mrs. de O’Donojú, Josefa Sánchez Barriga before her husband, which warmed a little the spirit of the poor woman who had traveled in the company of his nephews, Angel Orián and Vicenta Payno -since their two children had died prematurely- and now he was sorry for the death of his own nephews. That night he had a brief meeting with O’Donoju.
Will continue…
Part 2. (Click to read)
Iturbide and O’Donoju meet on the 24th of August, and we already know that before signing the treaty they each hear Mass in the oratory of the house where they stayed, O’Donoju in the House of the Count of Zevallos e Iturbide in the house of the Segura family, -later known as La Favorita, Portal of Glory-, not only so that things would go well, but because August 24 is the day of Saint Bartholomew- the apostle who died skinned-and like all the celebrations of the apostles at that time, it was a feast to be kept and obliged to hear Mass. They then meet at the house of Zevallos where Iturbide presents him with the Plan of Iguala. After brief clarifications and proposals, without further preamble, they dictate the document based on the Plan of Iguala, which however was not a copy of it. In the Córdoba one it did not talk about religion, but about pardons, free return of troops of the king and the consent of all the peninsular dissatisfied to return to Spain with their money, we talked about harmony and good will, without reprisals for anyone.
In the Municipal Archive of Córdoba there is a document extracted from the memoirs of the historian and archaeologist from Córdoba, Ramón Mena Isassi, in which he reproduces the account that his grandfather José Ma. Mena Blanco, who was a notary and clerk of the City Council in this decisive year of 1821, and therefore a possible eyewitness to such a singular fact, which among other descriptions says: “…Iturbide… to great strides crossed the Plaza of Armas and presented himself to the zahuan of the Cevallos where two ushers introduced him to the staircase, same current, passage fits the wooden grates of tampiciran, also current,… and through the central left door entered the narrow and long hall located between the corridor mentioned and the street view, of arquería and railings of iron majado by Cordobeses blacksmiths, … At the table, two mahogany abbatial chairs with silk damask trusses and in the table the chair for the secretary of O’Donojú. O’Donoju is sitting and holds the baton in his hand, wearing a blue jacket with red overalls embroidered with gold laurels and buttons of the same metal; through the side door enters Iturbide in military red high-necked casaquín, embroidered with laurel on bias and gold buttons, It advances by detaching the Surian sable from the tahali acharolado, to avoid the hit on the golden stitchings of the acharolada boot in contrast with the white suede trousers. He bows to O’Donoju, who sits him on his right … meanwhile the secretary, a clever prick … begins to write at the dictation, or of O’Donoju, or of Iturbide, from the first article in which the Independence was declared,… until the seventeenth that dictates of O’Donoju offering to use his authority for the Spanish forces to verify their departure without effusion of blood and by an honorable capitulation, and the secretary, sprinkling with a bunch of beautiful calligraphy that in the thick profiles of the word Independence gave reflections of precious jewel…”
This document, which would be known as the “Treaties of Cordoba”, signed by the two states among other things:
Treaties concluded in the Villa of Córdoba on the 24th of this year between Mr. Juan O’Donoju, Lieutenant General of the Spanish Armies, and Mr. Agustín de Iturbide, first Chief of the Imperial Mexican Army of the three Guarantees… Lieutenant General D. Juan O’Donojú with the character and representation of Captain General, and Political Superior of this kingdom, appointed by his M.C. who wishes to avoid the evils that afflict the peoples in alterations of this kind, and trying to reconcile, the interests of both Spainers, invited to an interview with the first Chief of the Imperial Army D. Agustín de Iturbide, in which he discussed the great business of independence, untying without breaking the ties that united the two continents… (Note here that it is O’Donoju, who mentions in his petition, untie the bonds without breaking them and not Iturbide as attributed to him).
Verify the interview was held in the town of Cordoba on August 24, 1821, and with the representation of his character the first one, and that of the Mexican Empire the second, after having given careful lectures on what was most convenient to both nations, In view of the current state and recent occurrences, they agreed on the following articles, which signed twice to give them all the consolidation that are capable of this kind of documents, keeping one original each in their possession for greater security and validation:
- America shall be recognized as a sovereign and independent nation, and is hereinafter called the Mexican Empire.
- The government of the Empire shall be constitutional moderate monarchist.
- The first to be called to reign in the Mexican Empire (after taking the oath designated in article 4 of the Plan) is Mr. D. Fernando Seventh Catholic King of Spain, and for his resignation or non-admission, his brother the Serene Lord Infante D. Carlos; for his resignation or non-admission the Serene Lord Infante D. Francisco de Paula; for his resignation or not admission the Most Serene Lord D. Carlos Luis Infante of Spain before heir of Etruria, today of Luca, and for renunciation or not admission of this, the one that the Courts of the Empire designate
- The Emperor will set up his court in Mexico, which will be the capital of the Empire.
- Two commissioners shall be appointed by the Exmo. Mr O’Donojú, those who will pass to the Court of Spain to put in the Royal hands of Mr. D Fernando VII, copy of this treaty, and exposition that will accompany him so that it serves as antecedent S.M. , while the Courts of the Empire offer him the crown with all formalities and guarantees, which accent of such importance requires;…
…6. An Assembly composed of the first men of the Empire, by virtue, by destiny, by fortune, by representation and concept, shall be appointed immediately in accordance with the spirit of the Plan of Iguala, whose number is sufficient for the meeting of lights to ensure the right in their determinations, which will be emanations of authority, and powers granted by the following articles.
- The board referred to in the preceding article shall be called a provisional governing board.
And so on, up to 17 articles.
Two copies of the document were made that same day, which would remain in the possession of Agustín de Iturbide and in the hands of Juan de O’Donojú.
Will continue…
Part 3. (Click to read)
On the same day, August 24, 1821, two copies of the document were made, one in the possession of Agustín de Iturbide and the other in the hands of Juan de O’Donojú.
Whose whereabouts are unknown.
The following day, August 25, Agustín de Iturbide goes to Orizaba where he remains that day and on the 26th being entertained by the residents; for his part O’Donojú and his wife stay with relative tranquility in Córdoba at least until the 31st, what we know is that on this date, from Córdoba, don Juan wrote the letter he sent to the Secretary of State for the Overseas Government giving an account of what happened.
In the following days in Córdoba and of O’Donojú’s original, during his stay, several copies were made and we know that at least three of them were its recipients: the king of Spain Fernando VII, the General. José Dávila, commander in Veracruz and General. Francisco Novella, in Mexico, referring to the Treaty in singular.
We know that by then Don Juan had some discomfort and had a painful trip, because, we do not know why, the port of Veracruz escorted by Antonio López de Santana moved to Xalapa and from there to the Villa of Córdoba. Those days of stay in the Villa, before starting his journey to Mexico, the capital, also serve to send other copies and sign them to send to the few square leaders who remained loyal to the Spanish government.
None of these copies were given a title and are known as “Treaty”.
Instead, all copies made by order of Iturbide, were made by hand or those that were commissioned for printing to Colonel José Joaquín Herrera – the hero of the battles in May in Córdoba- were known as Treaties, Since they were made to put a mile-long title “Treaties concluded in the town of Córdoba on 24 of this year between the Lords D. Juan O’Donojú, Lieutenant General of the Armies of Spain, and D. Agustín de Iturbide, first chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees”
This clarifies the reason for the two names, which in the end are synonymous.
Although the Spanish Courts ignored this treaty, arguing that O’Donojú had no authority or power to sign it, we must specify, legitimizing the Treaties of Córdoba, that they are signed between equals, since, although O’Donojú had two titles, one military and another political, and Iturbide had only one, the military, both of them were the leaders of the warring parties. This was undoubtedly a military treaty called for peace.
Refuting the argument of the Spanish deputies that O Donojú had no authority to sign it, logic leads us to consider that the king would never, and for no reason, give him expressly the powers to legitimize an action like this, however, it was here his plenipotentiary representative which makes us assume that as the king’s representative and chief-supreme he was the only one with authority to sign it. In further detail, I quote Iturbide in his memoirs: “…say those who disapprove of O’Donoju’s behavior, what would they have done or what do they think should have been done?”
Of course the loss of New Spain was for the metropolis, a catastrophe for everything that this involved, a great source of tax was vanished, the commercial losses, economic, military and power were enormous, besides that their prestige was damaged and seriously in predicament, besides the tremendous disrepair that meant to lose precisely this territory, jewel of the crown of overseas; therefore, from the first moment they sought the way to make invalid the Treaties of Cordoba, refusing to recognize them.
It is clear that from this moment the relationship was definitely broken with Spain, but even so, the Spanish Cortes rejected the Treaty of Córdoba and the Mexican Independence, publishing this determination in the Gazette of Madrid on 13 and 14 February 1822, when six months had already passed since its signature and five months since the Proclamation of Independence. Until 28 December of l836, when Mexico was already in the throes of a centralist government and a federalist one, which was signed in Madrid, the treaty “Santa María – Calatrava” recognizing independence and granting amnesty to all participants in the War of Independence.
Undoubtedly, with the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba, the Independence of New Spain was sealed and we can consider it as the Act of Birth of our Independent Mexico.
The Treaties of Córdoba
Listen or read this traditional Story of Córdoba, Veracruz.
Part 1. Background
Version by Adriana Balmori Aguirre
The signing of the Treaties of Cordoba was a major event in the Independence of New Spain, and this year, its bicentenary, I want to highlight some curious and other important facts related to this historic event. In 1810 the group of American deputies in the Cortes of Cádiz, of which he was leader for his vast knowledge both political and theological and legal don Miguel Ramos Arizpe, deputy by his native Coahuila, and with him also the historian Lucas Alamán, theologian Fray Servando Teresa de Mier, representing Veracruz, Don Joaquín Maniau and Guanajuato Octaviano Obregón y Gómez -who would for that trip dissolve his engagement with Leona Vicario-, made their presence felt and the needs of New Spain. Most of them were already sailing with liberal and independentist ideas, ideas with which the 1812 Constitution, called “la Pepa”, was promulgated on 19 March in Cadiz, Andalucía, because it was the day of San José, but there were also those who attributed it to being a mockery of Joseph Bonaparte, whom his brother Napoleon had left the throne of Spain after invading it, and was nicknamed Pepe Botella, no doubt for his fondness for intoxicating drinks and his permanent state of drunkenness. When Fernando VII returned to the throne in 1814, his absolutist government dissolved the Cortes and ignored the Constitution of Cadiz; he imprisoned all those who had intervened in it and also those who had acted against him, among which was another liberal military, Juan O’Donojú and O’Ryan, who suffers by direct orders of the king the punishment of “dogs” that he liked to inflict on this turbid character, and consisted in breaking one by one all the fingers of each hand, In addition to the nails being torn off, O’Donoju was left deformed and crippled after the atrocious torment.
Later, and much to the King’s dismay, the Cortes met again and from there emancipatory ideas emerged, especially with knowledge of the situation in New Spain and the displeasure of the Criollos for the application of the new impositions.
Knowing the liberal ideas of Don Juan, the deputies pressed Fernando VII to give him the great charge no longer of viceroy, title that had been eliminated in the new constitution, but as Captain General and Political Chief of New Spain.
On 30 July 1821, coming from Cadiz aboard the frigate Asia, Juan de O’ Donojú arrives at the port of Veracruz; that day, as a bad fario and black foreboding shakes the earth, and adds to him a whole chain of misfortunes; they die almost immediately of black vomit, two fleshly nephews who accompanied him, 7 of his officers and 100 soldiers of the troop. Juan José Rafael Teodomiro O’Donojú y O’Ryan, was born in Seville Spain on 30 July 1762, of Irish origin on all four sides. Good student who showed military skills at a young age, joined the Spanish army at 20 years old, where he developed a brilliant career. He married Josefa Sánchez Barriga-Blanco, from a wealthy family of Sevillian merchants who own multiple businesses and customs deals both in the peninsula and in American lands.
When he arrives, he is informed that the Trigarant Army had already occupied the entire nation and many royalist chiefs and their troops had passed to the insurgent side, only Mexico remained the capital, Durango, the remote Chihuahua, Acapulco, Veracruz port and the Fortress of San Carlos in Perote as realist redoubts.
Never could the wretched O’Donoju imagine more deplorable conditions than anyone could have managed. Seeing the chaos of the realistic and almost lost cause, he decides to make a pact with Iturbide and sign the Independence of New Spain. Since in the capital the general Novella, who was in charge of the government, was de facto chief, without official appointment, since he had removed the command from the Viceroy Apodaca, O’Donojú takes the oath of law in the same port before the commander of this, the Gral. José Ma. Dávila, a recalcitrant realist, assumed at that time all the responsibilities that this office conferred on him.
Decides to contact Iturbide, the chief of the Trigarantes, and sends him two letters, one in official tone and form and another personal one in which he asks for a meeting to discuss the situation of New Spain, begging him to be somewhere more healthy and with better climatic conditions. Iturbide proposes the Villa de Córdoba and there is the appointment. The date is set for the morning of August 24.
Iturbide was doing well, after the supposed embrace of Acatempan and the elaboration and proclamation on February 24 of that year of the Iguala Plan, which had meant the meeting of insurgent and realistic armies in one, the Trigarant Army or the Three Guarantees, -Religion, Union and Independence-, the letters of O’Donojú rounded up their plans. He was about to turn 38, was born on September 27, 1783, in Valladolid, today Morelia. Enlisted as an honorary ensign in the provincial regiment of Valladolid. He is described as elegant and tall, gallant and gentle with the ladies, had a reputation of being the best rider on the best horse, good charro and rejoneador, mocked the bulls in the squares or danced light, always in impeccable uniform, was a party for young ladies and not-so-young ones. He married Ana Ma. Huarte, who contributed a very rich dowry to the marriage and left her alone for long periods for her military assignments, but every time she returned, she left her love fruit, ten children were born. Shrewd and intelligent, by the maternal branch was Villaseñor, and relative of the priest Hidalgo who proposed to join the armed struggle, which declined, as he would later say “because that revolution was poorly conceived, and could not produce more than disorder blood and destruction”, he was right. He continued to fight in the royalist ranks where he distinguished himself by his victories in battle, until his military genius and political ambition made him see that circumstances were propitious and he could be the architect of Independence.
Very well advised, he drew up his Plan for the Independence of North America with which he seduced Vicente Guerrero, in whom he undoubtedly felt a great deal when he heard talk of “equality”.
With this panorama, O’Donojú arrives in Córdoba on August 23 escorted by Antonio López de Santa Anna, where he is very well received and distinguished; in the afternoon, coming from Puebla, Iturbide arrives who is warmly acclaimed and celebrated, carried in his car already without a shot, drawn by a people eager to meet the creator and chief of the Trigarant Army; he, gallantly and courteously that very afternoon presents his respects to Mrs. de O’Donojú, Josefa Sánchez Barriga before her husband, which warmed a little the spirit of the poor woman who had traveled in the company of his nephews, Angel Orián and Vicenta Payno -since their two children had died prematurely- and now he was sorry for the death of his own nephews. That night he had a brief meeting with O’Donoju.
Will continue…
Part 2. (Click to read)
Iturbide and O’Donoju meet on the 24th of August, and we already know that before signing the treaty they each hear Mass in the oratory of the house where they stayed, O’Donoju in the House of the Count of Zevallos e Iturbide in the house of the Segura family, -later known as La Favorita, Portal of Glory-, not only so that things would go well, but because August 24 is the day of Saint Bartholomew- the apostle who died skinned-and like all the celebrations of the apostles at that time, it was a feast to be kept and obliged to hear Mass. They then meet at the house of Zevallos where Iturbide presents him with the Plan of Iguala. After brief clarifications and proposals, without further preamble, they dictate the document based on the Plan of Iguala, which however was not a copy of it. In the Córdoba one it did not talk about religion, but about pardons, free return of troops of the king and the consent of all the peninsular dissatisfied to return to Spain with their money, we talked about harmony and good will, without reprisals for anyone.
In the Municipal Archive of Córdoba there is a document extracted from the memoirs of the historian and archaeologist from Córdoba, Ramón Mena Isassi, in which he reproduces the account that his grandfather José Ma. Mena Blanco, who was a notary and clerk of the City Council in this decisive year of 1821, and therefore a possible eyewitness to such a singular fact, which among other descriptions says: “…Iturbide… to great strides crossed the Plaza of Armas and presented himself to the zahuan of the Cevallos where two ushers introduced him to the staircase, same current, passage fits the wooden grates of tampiciran, also current,… and through the central left door entered the narrow and long hall located between the corridor mentioned and the street view, of arquería and railings of iron majado by Cordobeses blacksmiths, … At the table, two mahogany abbatial chairs with silk damask trusses and in the table the chair for the secretary of O’Donojú. O’Donoju is sitting and holds the baton in his hand, wearing a blue jacket with red overalls embroidered with gold laurels and buttons of the same metal; through the side door enters Iturbide in military red high-necked casaquín, embroidered with laurel on bias and gold buttons, It advances by detaching the Surian sable from the tahali acharolado, to avoid the hit on the golden stitchings of the acharolada boot in contrast with the white suede trousers. He bows to O’Donoju, who sits him on his right … meanwhile the secretary, a clever prick … begins to write at the dictation, or of O’Donoju, or of Iturbide, from the first article in which the Independence was declared,… until the seventeenth that dictates of O’Donoju offering to use his authority for the Spanish forces to verify their departure without effusion of blood and by an honorable capitulation, and the secretary, sprinkling with a bunch of beautiful calligraphy that in the thick profiles of the word Independence gave reflections of precious jewel…”
This document, which would be known as the “Treaties of Cordoba”, signed by the two states among other things:
Treaties concluded in the Villa of Córdoba on the 24th of this year between Mr. Juan O’Donoju, Lieutenant General of the Spanish Armies, and Mr. Agustín de Iturbide, first Chief of the Imperial Mexican Army of the three Guarantees… Lieutenant General D. Juan O’Donojú with the character and representation of Captain General, and Political Superior of this kingdom, appointed by his M.C. who wishes to avoid the evils that afflict the peoples in alterations of this kind, and trying to reconcile, the interests of both Spainers, invited to an interview with the first Chief of the Imperial Army D. Agustín de Iturbide, in which he discussed the great business of independence, untying without breaking the ties that united the two continents… (Note here that it is O’Donoju, who mentions in his petition, untie the bonds without breaking them and not Iturbide as attributed to him).
Verify the interview was held in the town of Cordoba on August 24, 1821, and with the representation of his character the first one, and that of the Mexican Empire the second, after having given careful lectures on what was most convenient to both nations, In view of the current state and recent occurrences, they agreed on the following articles, which signed twice to give them all the consolidation that are capable of this kind of documents, keeping one original each in their possession for greater security and validation:
- America shall be recognized as a sovereign and independent nation, and is hereinafter called the Mexican Empire.
- The government of the Empire shall be constitutional moderate monarchist.
- The first to be called to reign in the Mexican Empire (after taking the oath designated in article 4 of the Plan) is Mr. D. Fernando Seventh Catholic King of Spain, and for his resignation or non-admission, his brother the Serene Lord Infante D. Carlos; for his resignation or non-admission the Serene Lord Infante D. Francisco de Paula; for his resignation or not admission the Most Serene Lord D. Carlos Luis Infante of Spain before heir of Etruria, today of Luca, and for renunciation or not admission of this, the one that the Courts of the Empire designate
- The Emperor will set up his court in Mexico, which will be the capital of the Empire.
- Two commissioners shall be appointed by the Exmo. Mr O’Donojú, those who will pass to the Court of Spain to put in the Royal hands of Mr. D Fernando VII, copy of this treaty, and exposition that will accompany him so that it serves as antecedent S.M. , while the Courts of the Empire offer him the crown with all formalities and guarantees, which accent of such importance requires;…
…6. An Assembly composed of the first men of the Empire, by virtue, by destiny, by fortune, by representation and concept, shall be appointed immediately in accordance with the spirit of the Plan of Iguala, whose number is sufficient for the meeting of lights to ensure the right in their determinations, which will be emanations of authority, and powers granted by the following articles.
- The board referred to in the preceding article shall be called a provisional governing board.
And so on, up to 17 articles.
Two copies of the document were made that same day, which would remain in the possession of Agustín de Iturbide and in the hands of Juan de O’Donojú.
Will continue…
Part 3. (Click to read)
On the same day, August 24, 1821, two copies of the document were made, one in the possession of Agustín de Iturbide and the other in the hands of Juan de O’Donojú.
Whose whereabouts are unknown.
The following day, August 25, Agustín de Iturbide goes to Orizaba where he remains that day and on the 26th being entertained by the residents; for his part O’Donojú and his wife stay with relative tranquility in Córdoba at least until the 31st, what we know is that on this date, from Córdoba, don Juan wrote the letter he sent to the Secretary of State for the Overseas Government giving an account of what happened.
In the following days in Córdoba and of O’Donojú’s original, during his stay, several copies were made and we know that at least three of them were its recipients: the king of Spain Fernando VII, the General. José Dávila, commander in Veracruz and General. Francisco Novella, in Mexico, referring to the Treaty in singular.
We know that by then Don Juan had some discomfort and had a painful trip, because, we do not know why, the port of Veracruz escorted by Antonio López de Santana moved to Xalapa and from there to the Villa of Córdoba. Those days of stay in the Villa, before starting his journey to Mexico, the capital, also serve to send other copies and sign them to send to the few square leaders who remained loyal to the Spanish government.
None of these copies were given a title and are known as “Treaty”.
Instead, all copies made by order of Iturbide, were made by hand or those that were commissioned for printing to Colonel José Joaquín Herrera – the hero of the battles in May in Córdoba- were known as Treaties, Since they were made to put a mile-long title “Treaties concluded in the town of Córdoba on 24 of this year between the Lords D. Juan O’Donojú, Lieutenant General of the Armies of Spain, and D. Agustín de Iturbide, first chief of the Imperial Army of the Three Guarantees”
This clarifies the reason for the two names, which in the end are synonymous.
Although the Spanish Courts ignored this treaty, arguing that O’Donojú had no authority or power to sign it, we must specify, legitimizing the Treaties of Córdoba, that they are signed between equals, since, although O’Donojú had two titles, one military and another political, and Iturbide had only one, the military, both of them were the leaders of the warring parties. This was undoubtedly a military treaty called for peace.
Refuting the argument of the Spanish deputies that O Donojú had no authority to sign it, logic leads us to consider that the king would never, and for no reason, give him expressly the powers to legitimize an action like this, however, it was here his plenipotentiary representative which makes us assume that as the king’s representative and chief-supreme he was the only one with authority to sign it. In further detail, I quote Iturbide in his memoirs: “…say those who disapprove of O’Donoju’s behavior, what would they have done or what do they think should have been done?”
Of course the loss of New Spain was for the metropolis, a catastrophe for everything that this involved, a great source of tax was vanished, the commercial losses, economic, military and power were enormous, besides that their prestige was damaged and seriously in predicament, besides the tremendous disrepair that meant to lose precisely this territory, jewel of the crown of overseas; therefore, from the first moment they sought the way to make invalid the Treaties of Cordoba, refusing to recognize them.
It is clear that from this moment the relationship was definitely broken with Spain, but even so, the Spanish Cortes rejected the Treaty of Córdoba and the Mexican Independence, publishing this determination in the Gazette of Madrid on 13 and 14 February 1822, when six months had already passed since its signature and five months since the Proclamation of Independence. Until 28 December of l836, when Mexico was already in the throes of a centralist government and a federalist one, which was signed in Madrid, the treaty “Santa María – Calatrava” recognizing independence and granting amnesty to all participants in the War of Independence.
Undoubtedly, with the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba, the Independence of New Spain was sealed and we can consider it as the Act of Birth of our Independent Mexico.
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