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The Conspiracy of the Machetes (Spanish : La Conspiración de los Machetes) was an unsuccessful rebellion against the Spanish in New Spain in 1799. Although the conspiracy posed no threat to Spanish rule, nevertheless it was a shock to the rulers. Coming only 11 years before the Grito de Dolores, it is considered in modern Mexico to be a precursor of the Mexican War of Independence. [1]
Pedro de la Portilla was a Criollo employee in the New Spain tax collectors' office in the Plazuela de Santa Catarina. He was poor, with no important connections. In 1799 he arranged a meeting with about twenty other powerless youths in a house at Alley of the Gachupines No. 7, Mexico City. Some of the men in attendance were guards in the plazas of the city. Others were low officials in the clock-making or silver industries. All of them were relatives or friends of Portilla.
The meeting discussed the situation that Criollos found themselves in, in relation to Peninsulares (Criollos were "Europeans" born in America, and Peninsulares were Europeans born in Spain. Gachupines became an insulting term for the latter.) Those present agreed to rise in arms to rid the country of Peninsulares.
The plan agreed on was to free prisoners, and with them storm the viceroy's palace, thus capturing high officials and funds. The conspirators then intended to proclaim the independence of Mexico, declare war on Spain, and kill or expel the Peninsulares. To accomplish this, they were counting on 1,000 pesos of silver, two pistols, and some 50 cutlasses and machetes to initiate a popular uprising under the patronage of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Because of this, the conspiracy became known as the Conspiracy of the Machetes.
After the successful outcome of the rebellion, the plan was to appeal to the people to decide what form of government should be established in Mexico. The conspirators apparently favored a Congress based on that recently established in the United States.
At the second meeting, Isidoro Francisco de Aguirre, a cousin of Portilla, became alarmed at the preparations, and went to the authorities to denounce the conspiracy (November 10, 1799). Viceroy Miguel José de Azanza gave orders that they be arrested, but without revealing the motives of their conspiracy in order to avoid excitement among the populace. All the conspirators were apprehended and spent many years in prison. The trial was long, and did not reach a verdict. Some of them died in prison. Portilla himself lived to see the independence of Mexico.
Don Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo y Costilla Gallaga Mandarte y Villaseñor, commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or Miguel Hidalgo, was a Catholic priest, leader of the Mexican War of Independence and recognized as the Father of the Nation.
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María Josefa Crescencia Ortiz Téllez–Girón, popularly known as Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez or La Corregidora was an insurgent and supporter of the Mexican War of Independence, which fought for independence against Spain, in the early 19th century. She was married to Miguel Domínguez, corregidor of the city of Querétaro, hence her nickname.
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In Hispanic America, criollo is a term used originally to describe people of full Spanish descent born in the viceroyalties. In different Latin American countries, the word has come to have different meanings, mostly referring to the local-born majority. Historically, they have been misportrayed as a social class in the hierarchy of the overseas colonies established by Spain beginning in the 16th century, especially in Hispanic America. They were locally-born people–almost always of Spanish ancestry, but also sometimes of other European ethnic backgrounds.
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Manuel Antonio Flórez Maldonado Martínez Ángulo y Bodquín was a general in the Spanish navy and viceroy of New Granada and New Spain.
Miguel José de Azanza y Alegría, 1st Duke of Santa Fe, KOS was a Spanish politician and diplomat, and viceroy of New Spain from May 31, 1798 to April 30, 1800.
Pedro de la Portilla was an 18th-century Criollo rebel in New Spain against the Spanish. He was the leader of the Conspiracy of the Machetes, an unsuccessful rebellion in 1799. Although the conspiracy posed no threat to Spanish rule, nevertheless it was a shock to the rulers. Coming only 11 years before the Grito de Dolores, it is considered in modern Mexico to be a forerunner of the Mexican War of Independence.
Pedro de Garibay was a Spanish military officer and, from September 16, 1808 to July 19, 1809, viceroy of New Spain.
Gabriel J. de Yermo was a wealthy landowner in New Spain, leader of the anti-independence party, and leader of the coup that overthrew Viceroy José de Iturrigaray in 1808.
Francisco Javier de Lizana y Beaumont was bishop of Mexico and, from 19 July 1809 to 8 May 1810, viceroy of New Spain.
Félix María Calleja del Rey y de la Gándara, primer conde de Calderón was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain from March 4, 1813, to September 20, 1816, during Mexico's War of Independence. For his service in New Spain, Calleja was awarded with the title Count of Calderon.
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