This text comes from our book, All Ye Lands.
As the priest for the little village of Dolores in the Guanajuato region, Padre Miguel Hidalgo took great interest in the Indians’ everyday life. While one of his assistant priests cared for the people’s spiritual needs, Hidalgo helped the Indians cultivate grape vines and olive trees. According to Spanish law, however, the Indians were not permitted to engage in these activities.
Hidalgo was part of a group of creoles who had plans to overthrow the government of New Spain and form a new government. When someone told the plans of this group to the government, Hidalgo decided that he would not surrender or flee; he would resist. Gathering five to six hundred men around him, he marched from village to village, calling for rebellion. By September 21, 1810, 50,000 Indians, mestizos, and a few creoles had joined Hidalgo, marching under a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As the mostly peasant army marched toward the city of Guanajuato, it slaughtered any Europeans it found. When, on September 28, Hidalgo’s army took Guanjuato, a bloodbath followed. After this massacre, several Mexican bishops excommunicated Hidalgo and his followers. In this way, it appeared that the Church was the enemy of the poor.
Because of his army’s atrocities, Hidalgo could convince few creoles to join his cause. Instead, they joined the forces of those called “royalists” who defended the government of Mexico.
Hidalgo achieved his greatest victory near Mexico City when, on October 30, 1810, his ragtag army of 80,000 defeated 6,000 Spaniards. Yet, despite this victory, Hidalgo did not try to take Mexico City but decided to retreat toward the city of Guadalajara. This retreat disappointed his followers. Thousands abandoned Hidalgo’s army. Still, in Guadalajara, where more men joined him, Hidalgo set up a government. He promised to grant freedom to slaves and hand over to the Indians the lands they cultivated but did not own. Still, Hidalgo did not declare Mexico an independent country but promised to be faithful to King Fernando VII of Spain.
Hidalgo’s government, however, did not last long. On January 11, 1810, a much smaller royalist force shattered Hidalgo’s enormous army of 80,000 men. With only a small force of men, Hidalgo fled toward the north. On March 21, 1811, royalists captured Hidalgo in the hot and barren deserts of northern Mexico.
Because he was a priest, Hidalgo was handed over to the bishop of Durango. Deciding the priest was guilty of murder and treason, the bishop handed Hidalgo over to the state for execution. Standing before a firing squad on July 30, 1811, Hidalgo calmly instructed them to shoot him through his right hand, which he placed over his heart.
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