MORELOS CAMPAIGN: BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT - HISTORY - 2025

The Morelos campaign is the name given to the military campaign led by the priest José María Morelos, one of the protagonists of the Mexican War of Independence. In reality, historians speak of up to four different campaigns, which took place between 1810 and 1815.

Morelos achieved important victories in his fight against the side loyal to the Spanish Crown, although he also suffered several defeats. During that period he was the organizer of what can be considered as the first legislative body in Mexico, the Congress of Anahuac.

In his early years he supported the Spanish King Fernando VII, but events made him change his position. The one who convinced him to participate militarily in the war was Miguel Hidalgo, a priest like him. Hidalgo participated in the Querétaro conspiracy and had launched the Grito de Dolores, with which the independence struggle began.

Despite the great dedication that Morelos showed during the war, he was finally taken prisoner and shot by the Spanish. Today, the city in which he was born is called Morelia in his honor (old Valladolid) and Benito Juárez baptized one of the states that make up the Mexican union with his surname.

Background

Jose Maria Morelos

José María Morelos, also known as Servant of the Nation, was born in Valladolid on September 30, 1815. Very soon he directed his steps towards ecclesiastical service, studying at the seminary and being ordained a priest. In the time before the beginning of the War of Independence he lived in Carácuaro.

The entry of the French into Spain and the replacement of Ferdinand VII on the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother, José, provoked the logical unrest in the then colony. In that first moment, Morelos positioned himself on the side of the legitimate king, as did a good part of the Mexicans.

In 1810 fear grew that the French would decide to invade New Spain, prompting a reaction from the Church. Other sectors also began to make movements, especially the Creoles who were acquiring a certain economic and social power.

The Revolution breaks out

In the beginning, the intention of these sectors was not to fight for independence. The plan was to form government boards that would remain faithful to Fernando VII, but made up of Mexicans and with some self-government.

In this context the Conspiracy of Valladolid takes place and, later, the Conspiracy of Querétaro. The failure of this last attempt and the reaction of the Spaniards led one of its leaders, Miguel Hidalgo, to launch the one known as Grito de Dolores, calling to take up arms against the royalists.

Hidalgo, who was also a priest, contacted Morelos on October 20, 1810, just a month after the start of hostilities. After an interview, she convinced him to join her ranks.

Development

As noted before, the Morelos Campaign was actually four different campaigns developed over five years. Apart from military activity, Morelos maintained great political activity, both practical and theoretical, with his writings on the subject.

First campaign

The first of the campaigns carried out by Morelos obeyed the direct mandate of Miguel Hidalgo. This had ordered him to head south and take the port of Acapulco, in order to hinder the trade of the colony.

Despite his lack of military experience, José María Morelos managed to organize a fearsome and disciplined army. However, his first attempt to storm Acapulco ended in failure, and he was forced to retreat.

Undaunted, he set out to conquer Chilpancingo and Tixtla, achieving some victories.

The news of the execution of Hidalgo and other independence leaders in June 1811 caused a certain halt in the fighting. The pro-independence side needed some time to reorganize and, finally, López Rayón was the one who took the leadership. One of his first actions was to create the Supreme National Board of America.

This junta still pledged allegiance to the Spanish king, which Morelos did not like at all. In any case, the movement continued to grow, attracting a good part of the Creole intellectuals and landowners of the time.

Second campaign

After this restructuring in command, the second military campaign began. It began in November 1811 and lasted until May of the following year. Morelos decided to divide his troops, forming three different forces to try to reach several objectives at the same time.

One of the forces had to march to try to take Oaxaca, another had orders to conquer Taxco, and the third, under the command of Morelos himself, headed north.

The latter managed to enter Izúcar, who surrendered without fighting. The next was to get to Cuautla, taking several other locations along the way.

Controversial movement

The movement that Morelos made then has become one of the most discussed by historians. The logical thing would have been to go to Puebla and prepare the assault on Mexico City from there, but instead he ordered a march to Taxco to meet with the troops who had achieved the objective of conquering it.

This meant giving the royalists the opportunity to attack Zitácuaro, headquarters of the Junta de Rayón. The victory of the Spanish, under the command of Félix María Calleja, was the beginning of the fall of Rayón and his supporters.

Upon hearing the news, Morelos returns to Cuautla, Calleja's next target. After a siege that lasted until May 1812, the result was in tables. It is true that the city was recovered for the royalist side, but Morelos and his followers managed to escape from what was a desperate situation after three months of siege.

Third campaign

From June 1812 to August 1813 the third campaign led by Morelos took place. It is possibly the most successful of all those he did, coming to control the axis between Chiautla and Tehuacán.

In November he decided to attack Oaxaca, managing to defeat the royalist defenders. This action was a huge increase in popularity due to the brilliance of his strategy.

In that city he established his headquarters and dedicated himself to expanding the control zone. Likewise, he created a whole new administrative structure, enacted some laws, and established a kind of police to maintain order.

According to experts, Morelos was faced with a question about what the next step should be. Some asked him to go directly to the capital, while others advocated conquering Acapulco in order to receive help from foreign allies, especially the United States.

Finally he decided on that second option and in January 1813 he set out for the coastal city. The siege lasted from April to August and in that last month it achieved its objective, entering the town.

Fourth campaign

After these military successes, Morelos tried to strengthen the positions won and create a government structure. He settled in Chilpancingo and proposed a 59-article plan to govern the country. It could be said that it was almost an authentic Constitution.

In this project the separation of powers was established, with a generalissimo as the holder of the executive power in perpetuity. For the legislature, he thought of forming a Congress of Deputies, while he proposed not to change the existing Judicial Power.

As an important part, Article 17 declared independence from Spain, no longer swearing allegiance to any king.

Morelos generalissimo

Morelos's project became a reality on November 14, 1813. Congress elected him generalissimo by acclamation, being invested with all the powers associated with the position. The Chamber of Deputies was functioning regularly during those months.

On the military level, Morelos decided to take one more step towards complete control of the country. At the end of 1813 he laid siege to Valladolid, with the aim of transferring Congress there.

However, the royalists reacted promptly and the arrival of reinforcements caused Morelos and his followers to retreat with many casualties.

With this defeat, Morelos's power declined considerably and for the next two years he limited himself to obeying the Congress of Chilpancingo.

Defeat of Morelos

The previous one was the last campaign carried out by Hidalgo. The royalists, under Calleja's command, fiercely counterattacked throughout the territory. After a series of defeats, Morelos was taken prisoner.

As had happened to Miguel Hidalgo before, he first had an ecclesiastical trial in which his priestly orders were withdrawn. Then he had the military trial that sentenced him to death.

On December 22, 1815 he was executed in the remains of the castle of San Cristóbal Ecatepec.

Refer

1. Mexico history. Morelos campaigns. Obtained from independencedemexico.com.mx
2. Nava, Christian. The Campaigns of Morelos. Recovered from inehrm.gob.mx
3. lhistory. Jose Maria Morelos. Obtained from lhistoria.com
4. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Jose Maria Morelos. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. New world encyclopedia. Mexican War of Independence. Retrieved from newworldencyclopedia.org
6. Olvera, Alfonso. Jose maria morelos and pavon. Obtained from inside-mexico.com

7. Graham, Richard. Independence in Latin America: Contrasts and Comparisons. Recovered from books.google.es
8. Biography.com. Jose Maria Morelos. Retrieved from biography.com