Treaties of Cordoba

House where the Treaties of Córdoba were signed

The Treaties of Córdoba is a document that agrees on the Independence of Mexico and the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the capital of the country, signed in the city of Córdoba, Veracruz, on 24 August 1821, by Agustín de Iturbide (commander of the Trigarante Army) and by Juan O'Donojú (higher political leader of the Province of New Spain), days after the battle of Azcapotzalco. The text is made up of seventeen articles that represent an extension to the Iguala Plan. This agreement was rejected by the Spanish government. The recognition of Mexican independence occurs through another agreement, dated December 28, 1836, the "Treaty of peace and friendship between Mexico and Spain."

Content

In said treaty, it seeks the recognition of Mexico as an empire independent of the Spanish Monarchy. The Mexican empire recognized itself as a moderate and constitutional monarchist. In the first place, the government of the independent Mexican nation was offered to the Bourbon family, in the first place to Ferdinand VII de Borbón, and not appearing in Mexico in the term indicated by its congress to take the oath, would be called in his case his brothers, the infantes Carlos, Francisco de Paula, or his cousin Archduke Carlos Luis, -the latter son of María Luisa de Borbón and grandson of Carlos III of Spain- or another individual of the reigning house determined by the congress; In the event that none of these accepted the crown of the Mexican Empire, the imperial courts would designate the new Mexican monarch, without specifying if he should belong to any European ruling house or if he could name any Mexican.

This last sentence had not been contemplated in the Plan de Iguala, it was conveniently added by Iturbide to leave open the opportunity for a Mexican citizen to be elected. On the other hand, Juan O'Donojú, in his capacity as his superior political chief, was not able to sign the document, but agreed to sign it in his personal capacity.

Signature and consequences

Interview of September 13, 1821 of the generals O'Donojú and Novella with the general of the Three Agustin Guarantees of Iturbide in Tacubaya.

O'Donojú did not have faculties in this power to renounce any part of Spanish territory, but once the treaties were signed, O'Donojú sent a copy addressed to Francisco Novella who was in Mexico City. Novella, who was acting as head of government and Captain General of New Spain, called a war junta attended by members of the provincial council, the city council, the clergy and the highest military commanders. They concluded that the document should be ratified by the Spanish government and requested the presence of O'Donojú, who, although he recognized his military rank, did not recognize Novella's political position acquired with the dismissal of Juan Ruiz de Apodaca. A meeting was arranged in Tacubaya, which was held on September 13 with the presence of Iturbide. Novella, the members of the City Council and the provincial council recognized O'Donojú as the new Superior political chief after several hours of discussion behind closed doors.

On September 27, 1821, the Triguarante Army (or the Army of the Three Guarantees) entered Mexico City and on September 28 the Mexicans drafted the Mexican Independence Act that declared their independence. Subsequently, Juan de O'Donojú died suddenly on October 8, 1821 in Mexico. The Spanish Cortes rejected the Treaty of Córdoba and Mexican independence, publishing this determination in the Gaceta de Madrid on February 13 and 14, 1822. The Mexican Constituent Congress proclaimed Agustín de Iturbide emperor of Mexico on May 18, 1822. On March 19, 1823, Iturbide abdicated after the Revolution of the Plan de Casa Mata, and the Mexican Congress considered the Plan of Iguala and the Treaties of Córdoba that united the country and granted Mexican independence.