The painting often identified as commemorating Cinco
de Mayo in Mexico actually depicts the Spanish war with Napoleon's
France two generations before the French war in Mexico. Nor is the event
of Cinco de Mayo of much political significance--other than ironic--although it was a shocking military one.
Goya sought to commemorate Spanish resistance to Napoleon's armies
during the occupation of 1808 in the Peninsular War, a savage affair
fought by Spanish partisans against hard, regular French troops. This
famous painting was The Third of May (along with its companion piece, The Second of May 1808 or The Charge of the Mamelukes.)
Third of May:
A half century later in 1862, Spain's creditors ran out of patience with
her debts. France, eager to expand her territory and following long
accepted custom of seizing a reluctant debtor's ports and collecting the
tax receipts in lieu of their loan, invaded the Mexican port of
Veracruz with the intent of collecting customs receipts until the debt
was repaid. They also had another aim: They hoped to make their stay
permanent with the placement of Maximilian on a Mexican throne. The
French marched inland. This was an experienced, tough group and they
proceeded virtually unopposed until they were confronted by a good sized
Mexican force at the small town of Puebla. There, against all
expectation and logic, on 5 May 1862, Mexican troops, led by Ignacio
Zaragoza, defeated a larger force of the elite French Foreign Legion.
Mexican President Benito Juarez declared 5 May a national holiday -- Cinco
de Mayo--although he certainly knew the truth. The French replaced
their commander and sent thirty thousand reinforcements. In no time they
controlled the cities and created the election that elected Maximilian
Emperor of México.
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