Mexico’s first independent government was a short-lived monarchy led by a former royal officer.

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico took the unusual step of establishing a constitutional monarchy. Led by Agustín de Iturbide, the First Mexican Empire lasted less than two years. It was a period defined by financial ruin, political deadlock, and the eventual rise of a republican movement.

The First Mexican Empire emerged from the chaos of the Mexican War of Independence, which began in 1810. By 1821, Agustín de Iturbide, a former Royal Spanish officer, brokered the Plan of Iguala. This blueprint aimed to unite Mexican factions by guaranteeing independence, equality for all residents, and the preservation of the Roman Catholic Church as the official state religion. When Spain rejected the Treaty of Córdoba, which had offered the Mexican throne to a Spanish royal, public demonstrations in May 1822 pushed for Iturbide to become emperor.

Iturbide’s reign was plagued by immediate friction with the Mexican Congress. The new government was effectively bankrupt, leading to forced loans and the issuance of paper currency to cover state obligations. Tensions peaked when Iturbide dissolved Congress in October 1822, replacing it with a hand-picked National Institutional Junta. This move alienated his allies and sparked a military rebellion led by figures like Antonio López de Santa Anna, who championed a republican form of government through the Plan of Casa Mata.

By March 1823, the insurrection had gained significant momentum across Mexico. Facing a loss of military support and widespread opposition, Iturbide reconvened Congress and offered his abdication on March 19, 1823. The monarchy was subsequently abolished, and power transferred to a provisional government. This brief experiment represented Mexico’s greatest territorial extent, stretching from northern California to Central America, though the latter provinces soon seceded to form their own republic following the empire's collapse.

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