Natalie Taylor

Archduke Maximilian, the younger brother of Franz Joseph, the emperor of Austria, came to Mexico in 1864 to become the emperor. His hapless three-year reign is a master-class in what not to do. Mexican conservatives formally solicit that Archduke Maximilian become their emperor In the first place, he naively believed the claims that he was “adored” by the Mexican people and that they were excited about having a foreign ruler foisted on them. This misinformation was fed by tho

Eighteen sixty five marked the third year of the “French intervention” in Mexico, the imposition of the second Mexican empire with Archduke Maximilian of Austria as emperor; a puppet ruler installed by Napoleon III of France. It was a well-thought out plan to instill a monarchy in America and Napoleon’s timing was excellent: the United States was involved in its own civil war and took its eyes and efforts away from a foreign invasion of their neighbor to the south. Ever since

In early 1821, after an eleven-year fight for independence, "the Mexican nation" declared itself sovereign and independent of Spain. This...

“Regardless of the size of the city or town where men or women are born, they are ultimately the size of their work, the size of their...

THE ORATORY:  PART 2 As would be expected, most of the works found inside the Oratory church relate to the founder of the order: Philip...

Part I One of the largest religious establishments in San Miguel de Allende is the church of the Oratory, prominent along Insurgentes...

Fire is humanity’s oldest tool and its oldest enemy. No other discovery had a more dramatic effect on humanity than the moment when early...

Among the memorable dates in Mexico is July 9, 1832, the birthdate of Maximillian, who would play a major part in the country’s history. ...

Part II When the Mexican War of Independence began, right here in our town, on September 15, 1810, everything changed overnight. None was...

Part I On the surface, the annual Locos Parade of San Miguel de Allende seems nothing more than people dressing up in outrageous costumes...

Antonio Arreola is, first of all, a surprising musician. That’s because the quality of the music he produces on his violin would warrant...

The Parroquia of San Miguel St Vitus Cathedral of Prague My attachment to San Miguel de Allende is so deep I have a hard time visiting...

The San Miguel Arcangel Parroquia—the emblematic pink church—is the landmark that defines San Miguel de Allende. In 1880 it evolved from...

Benito Juarez is without question most significant as the president who oversaw the transformation of Mexico into a republican...

Part I Benito Juárez was on-again off-again president of Mexico during the turbulent years from 1861 through 1872. His entire lifetime...

Carmen at age 11 Imagine what this city would be like with stoplights, neon lights, asphalt streets rather than cobblestones, no...

February 24 is a Mexican national holiday celebrating Flag Day. The Mexican flag—the tricolor symbol with an eagle at its center—has gone...

This weekend marks a festival that has become part of San Miguel tradition—Candelaria, or its English equivalent Candlemas. What exactly...

January 19 marks the date of death of a personage whose life spanned over two centuries, witnessed incredible changes in social and...

Another major street that crisscrosses the center of town is Insurgentes. It is nowhere as long as Calle de la Canal, which I described...