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A review by stanley_nolan_blog
Habsburgs on the Rio Grande: The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire by Raymond Jonas
3.0
The Habsburgs in the second half of the 19th century until their finale in 1918 is fascinating. Franz Joseph came to power in 1848 (at 18 years old) and ruled the Austrian Empire until his death in 1916; it was so long that on his Empire's borders, he saw Italy and Germany unify into proper countries and the Ottoman Empire collapse. And although he reigned a very long time, murderous deaths surrounded him: his only son Rudolph died via suicide pact in 1889, his cousin-wife Elisabeth (the immortally famous Sisi) was assassinated in 1898, and the assassination of his nephew (Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent after Rudolph) sparked World War 1.
But the earliest tragedy in Franz Joseph's life was the assassination of his brother, Maximilian, in Mexico, which this book details. Though the incident is almost 150 years old, it's little understood or discussed in American and European history. In Mexico they remember this period through Cinco de Mayo, but if asked about who Emperor Maximilian I was, most wouldn't know. It was a relatively short period in the long struggle for Mexican independence and the circumstances were strange: the dominant colonial countries in Europe, backed by Napoleon III and French soldiers with an Austrian prince at the helm, conquered a post-US-Mexico War and post-Mexican Civil War weakened Mexico, which established the Second Mexican Empire.
While Raymond Jonas does a fine job explaining the backstory and individuals involved, it lags behind in describing the story as a unified hole. Its narrative is punctuated by—and relies too much on—excerpts/quotes from others at the expense of the author's own voice/narration. The characters are too loosely fleshed out, most of whom feel like afterthoughts or "we need another perspective" characters that don't fit. Whether this is because of a diminished historical record or lack of proper sources, it feels empty overall. Nonetheless, as most stories of empires and conquests go, the action set pieces and royal intrigue nicely compel the story forward. Despite the flaws, it's an enjoyable bit of semi-lost history for anyone interested in the Habsburgs, Napoleon III, or 19th century Mexican history (especially for those, like myself, who were interested in why Puebla and May 5th are so important).
But the earliest tragedy in Franz Joseph's life was the assassination of his brother, Maximilian, in Mexico, which this book details. Though the incident is almost 150 years old, it's little understood or discussed in American and European history. In Mexico they remember this period through Cinco de Mayo, but if asked about who Emperor Maximilian I was, most wouldn't know. It was a relatively short period in the long struggle for Mexican independence and the circumstances were strange: the dominant colonial countries in Europe, backed by Napoleon III and French soldiers with an Austrian prince at the helm, conquered a post-US-Mexico War and post-Mexican Civil War weakened Mexico, which established the Second Mexican Empire.
While Raymond Jonas does a fine job explaining the backstory and individuals involved, it lags behind in describing the story as a unified hole. Its narrative is punctuated by—and relies too much on—excerpts/quotes from others at the expense of the author's own voice/narration. The characters are too loosely fleshed out, most of whom feel like afterthoughts or "we need another perspective" characters that don't fit. Whether this is because of a diminished historical record or lack of proper sources, it feels empty overall. Nonetheless, as most stories of empires and conquests go, the action set pieces and royal intrigue nicely compel the story forward. Despite the flaws, it's an enjoyable bit of semi-lost history for anyone interested in the Habsburgs, Napoleon III, or 19th century Mexican history (especially for those, like myself, who were interested in why Puebla and May 5th are so important).