Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu

Agustín Iturbide joined the army becoming an officer in the provincial regiment of Valladolid in 1797. His defense of Valladolid against the revolutionary forces of José María Morelos dealt a crushing blow to the insurgents, and for this victory Iturbide was given command of the military district of Guanajuato and Michoacán. In 1816, however, grave charges of extortion and violence caused his removal. In February 1821 Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero signed the Plan de Iguala and created the Ejército Trigarante. In August 1821 Iturbide and the representative of the Spanish king, Juan O'Donojú, signed the Tratado de Córdoba, ending the war and giving Mexico independence. On 28 Sep 1821, Iturbide was elected the president of the Provisional Junta of Government and the Regency exercising the imperial authority; appointed Generalísimo de las Armas del Imperio de mar y tierra (or Generalísimo y Almirante) by the Junta (28 Sep 1821); On the night of the 18 May 1822, a mass demonstration led by the regiment of Celaya, whose commander was Iturbide, marched through the streets and demanded that their commander-in-chief accept the throne. On 19 May 1822 the Sovereign Congress named him the emperor and on 21 May 1822, issued a decree officially confirming this appointment. As the congressional factions sharply criticized the government, Iturbide decided to dissolve the Congress (31 Oct 1822). In Veracruz, the commander of the garrison, Antonio López de Santa Anna, rose against Iturbide and proclaimed a republic (1 Dec 1822). Facing a threat of rebellion, Iturbide issued a decree (4 Mar 1823) ordering the Congress to reassemble (opened sessions 7 Mar 1823) and finally abdicated (19 Mar 1823). He was allowed to leave Mexico City (29 Mar 1823) and sailed to Europe (11 May 1823). In 1824 the Congress, having already declared his administration void, passed a decree declaring him an outlaw and an enemy of the state (28 Apr 1824). Referring to the intrigues of Spain against Mexico in a manifesto issued in London on 13 Feb 1824, Iturbide decided to return to Mexico. When he landed near Soto la Marina, Mexico (15 Jul 1824), he was apprehended on and executed. Biography sources: [7][8][9]