bigfan wrote:
One of my favorite "Holidays" of all time.
First, it is not Mexcian independence day....not even close.
It is the date that the war between France and Mexico ended. Mexico didnt pay its debt to many European nations (Sounds awfully modern), so Napo was going to invade Mexico and take it. The Mexican army put up a fight and per the Mexican history side of things, they stood strong and fought them off.
The French version is that after going into Mexico and seeing what was there, they didnt want it if anyone was going to contest them and they just pulled out of the fight....they left and the Mexican Amry declared VICTORY (Sounds like a Hollywood comedy). Considering France was the most well equipped army in 1862, makes tons of sense.
Go up to your Mexican neighbor today and was wish them a 'Happy Cinco de Mayo" and if they are really from Mexico, I feel pretty good they are going to laugh at you....
Have fun at Chili's...guessing they will have "Cindo de Mayo Special"
Ok just a couple things.
1. "Napo" - There's more than one Napoleon.
We generally only refer to Napoleon Bonaparte I, of the first French Republic and first French Empire, as simply Napoleon. The Napoleon you are referring to here is actually Napoleon's nephew, of the second French Republic (and second French Empire) and we call him Napoleon III, or Louis-Napoleon.
2. "most well equipped army in 1862" .... was the Prussians. Maybe the British, maybe even the Union Army (very busy in 1862!) but my money is still on the Prussians. Great quote by Mirabeau (sometimes attributed to Voltaire): "Some states possess an army; Prussia is an army which possesses a state." They had really only become more militaristic over time, a trend that would continue for "Prussia" until the fall of Nazi Germany in 1945.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
