ATTEMPTED SPANISH RECONQUEST: ANTECEDENTS AND DEVELOPMENT - HISTORY - 2025

The attempt of Spanish reconquest of the recently independent Mexico took place during the years 1821 and 1829. It was in that last year when the Spanish decided to launch a great offensive from Cuba with two primary objectives: first, to recover New Spain; and later, to recover the rest of its old colonial dominions.

The Treaties of Córdoba, which declared the country's independence, had been signed in 1821 by Agustín de Iturbide, who represented the Mexicans; and by Juan O'Donojú on the part of the Spanish. However, O'Donojú was only the political head of New Spain and did not have the necessary powers to speak on behalf of the metropolis.

This caused that the Spanish Crown did not recognize the treaty at that time. It would not be until 1836 when he finally accepted the independence of his former colony. Despite the fact that, after the military victories of the insurgents, only a small garrison remained in the entire country in the hands of the Spanish, the Crown never renounced the possibility of reconquest.

This caused Mexico to face considerable expenses to acquire military ships and supply its army. The proximity of the island of Cuba, which was in Spanish hands, constituted another threat that the new country had to attend to in order to maintain its independence.

Background to the reconquest attempts

The lack of recognition by the Spanish Crown of the independence of Mexico was a continuing threat to the country.

Despite the fact that the continental territory was free of Spanish soldiers, the Mexican government was very aware of the possibility that they would try to regain control of the nation.

On the other hand, the internal instability in which the country was plunged did not allow it to grow economically, a circumstance aggravated by the great military expenditure to which it was forced.

Finally, at the end of the 20s of the 19th century, fears about Hispanic intentions were confirmed despite the preventive movements of the North American country.

San Juan of ulua

After the departure of the Spanish troops from Mexico, a fortress located off the coast of Veracruz called San Juan de Ulúa remained the only place under the control of Europeans.

Although this fortress in itself did not pose a great risk, the truth is that the possibility that it served as an outpost for an attempt to reconquest worried the Mexican rulers.

Just two months after the signing of the Treaties of Córdoba, the Spanish had promised to hand over the castle. Instead of doing so, however, they armed themselves with 200 soldiers, all the weapons they possessed, and a large amount of money.

The Iturbide government only began to worry when reinforcements arrived from Cuba and the garrison increased to 2,000 soldiers. Mexico reacts by appointing Colonel Manuel Rincón as governor of Veracruz.

Negotiations for the castle

Despite the indicated concern in the government, Mexico had the great problem of not having a naval force that could take the fortress from the sea. Nor did the ground attack look possible given the poverty of the army's weapons at that time.

Given this, Iturbide chooses to negotiate with the Spanish. The talks came to nothing, but for some time the situation calmed down without any relevant facts.

The change on the part of both sides of those responsible in the area causes events to evolve.

On the one hand, Santa Anna takes over the government of the city and begins to put pressure on Hispanics. On the other hand, the Spanish appoint Francisco Lamaur as head of the fortress.

Lamaur makes the first provocative move by starting to pass laws, which went against Mexican national sovereignty.

The tension grew so much that on September 25, 1823 the bombing of Veracruz by the Spanish took place. More than 6,000 civilians were forced to leave the city; This fact convinces the government that it has to take the final step.

Taking of the fortress

In response to the attack from San Juan, the Mexicans began a total blockade of the place. For that, they have to finally attend to the request of the Secretary of War and Navy to acquire a naval force.

Mexico does this with its first squad, with which it launches the attack on the fortress. On November 23, 1825, San Juan de Ulúa surrendered, with which Spain lost its last dominance in Mexico.

The danger of Cuba

The success of the capture of San Juan does not end Mexican concerns. Rather, the opposite occurs, since they realize that Spain still hopes to re-conquer the territory.

The most obvious threat comes from Cuba, in Spanish hands and where there is a great military force. Mexico's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lucas Alamán, analyzes this threat and concludes that "Cuba without Mexico is destined for the imperialist yoke, Mexico without Cuba is a prisoner of the Gulf of Mexico."

The plan to end that threat was to go ahead and, with the help of France and England, seize the island from Spanish hands. The plan is finally given the green light, and Mexico hires an experienced commodore, David Porter, to lead the attack.

In principle, it was intended to prevent maritime communication in Cuba, although taking the island completely was not ruled out. A project was even drawn up to promote a Cuban independence movement.

Battle of Mariel

Unfortunately for the Mexicans, the plan outlined ends in a resounding defeat. From the beginning of 1828, the few ships they owned began to harass Spanish merchants and convoys, but on February 10 they were going to meet more serious enemies.

It all started when one of the North American ships attacked a Spanish commercial convoy, which had to flee to Havana. Unlike other occasions, the Spanish react very quickly and send a frigate far superior in strength and men.

Both boats face close to Mariel, but the power difference is too great. After a couple of hours, the Mexican ship has to surrender.

Despite this defeat, episodes of maritime siege against the European ships continued to occur.

The attempted reconquest of 1829

The most serious attempt by the Spanish to reconquer Mexico occurred in 1829. As the Mexicans had always feared, the attempt started from Cuba and involved 4,000 soldiers, 2 gunboats, 2 frigates, and 15 transport ships.

Vicente Guerrero, president of Mexico at that time, begins to organize his own troops as soon as he learns of the Spanish expedition.

Battle of Pueblo Viejo

The area chosen by the Spanish to disembark was near Tampico. The chosen day was July 27, 1829. After stepping on land, part of the troops began to move towards the city.

Apparently the plan consisted of looking for possible sympathizers in the area to help them in their objective: to create a kind of detachment in the area to receive more help from Cuba.

A few days later the first battle took place, when the Spanish managed to take over Pueblo Viejo and the Fortín de la Barra. The attempts of the Mexicans to stop the advance are in vain in those first moments.

Meanwhile, in Veracruz, Santa Anna is organizing to come to the aid of those who are suffering these attacks. Together with Valdivieso (from San Luis Potosí) and Velázquez, they leave for the area.

Before they could arrive, Tampico de Tamaulipas falls into European hands. It is not until August 20 when the resistance led by Santa Anna begins, although the status quo is maintained until September.

The Mexicans began their offensive on the 7th of that month, when the troops from San Luis reached the area. Between the 10th and the 11th the Spaniards are defeated and forced to flee back to Havana.

This battle meant the last attempt to reconquer Spanish its former colony. Mexico saw its independence strengthened, although it would still have to wait until 1836 for the crown of Spain to recognize it.

References

1. Mexico and its History. Attempt of Reconquest. Recovered from sites.google.com
2. Drafting News MVS. Attempt to reconquer. Recovered from mvsnoticias.com
3. Carmona Dávila, Doralicia. In Pueblo Viejo, Veracruz, Isidro Barradas is defeated in his attempt to reconquer the country for Spain. Obtained from memoriapoliticademexico.org
4. Military Wikia. San Juan of ulua. Retrieved from military.wikia.com
5. Nardini, Daniel. The Second Spanish Attempt to Conquer Mexico. Retrieved from lawndalenews.com
6. Iberoamerican Independence Bicentennial. Resistance and new reconquest attempts. Obtained from pares.mcu.es
7. On war. Mexico-Spain War 1829. Retrieved from onwar.com