MAXIMILIAN I, Emperor of Mexico
Maximilian I (1832-1867), Emperor of Mexico from 1864-1867, qualifies as one of the country's most ill-fated rulers. Hailing from a European dynasty, Maximilian was duped into accepting the role of Mexico's emperor. Brought to the country under false pretenses, the archduke of Austria was led to believe his presence would be welcome by the people of Mexico. In fact, the opposite was true.
Mexico was experiencing the painful residues of a civil war (The War of the Reform) when Maximilian arrived in Veracruz in 1864. Mexico's president, Benito Juarez, supported wide sweeping reforms for the country. This deeply angered the conservatives and the church who sought to maintain the status quo.
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