Chapter Page I Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian 11 II The Mexican Empire 15 III Arrival of the Emperor in Mexico 24 IV Maximilian’s First Measures 28 V Church Affairs in Mexico 37 VI Enemies Within and Without 40 VII Bazaine’s Position in Mexico 44 VIII Fruits of the New Government 48 IX Louis Napoleon’s Attitude 52 X The Empress’ Journey to Europe 56 XI Events in Mexico After the Departure of the Empress 62 XII The Emperor at Orizaba 73 XIII Departure of the French 79 XIV The Siege of Querétaro 86 XV Downfall of the Mexican Empire 99 XVI The Emperor’s Imprisonment 113 XVII Death of Maximilian and His Generals 124 XVIII Conclusion 129 Appendix 133 Illustrations Page Emperor Maximilian _Frontispiece_ Empress Carlotta 56 Last Moments of Emperor Maximilian 124 Maximilian in Mexico Chapter I Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Ferdinand Maximilian, born at Schönbrunn on the sixth of July, 1832, was the second son of Archduke Charles of Austria and the Archduchess Sophie of Bavaria, a clever and highly cultivated princess, under whose personal supervision the young Archduke received a careful and thorough education, in which Count Bombelles, whose son afterward accompanied Maximilian to Mexico, also had an important share. From early childhood the prince showed that marked love of nature, and especially of the sea, which was so characteristic of his later years and which made his education for the navy—his destined career—an easy and pleasant task. To this chosen profession, indeed, he applied himself with such zeal and devotion that he may be regarded as the real founder of the Austrian navy. His leisure hours were devoted to the study of the fine arts and to the practice of all sorts of athletic pursuits, in which he excelled, being tall and well built, and quick and elastic in all his motions.