Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla: Biography

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753 - 1811) is known to be one of the initiators of the Mexican War of Independence. This priest and revolutionary was the one that launched the known as Grito de Dolores, which began several years of conflicts that led to an independent country of the Spanish Crown.

He is described as a man who is educated and concerned about the problems of the most disadvantaged, such as the indigenous workers of haciendas. Despite calling the armed struggle, he always stood out for his attempts to prevent disproportionate bloody acts against his enemies.

Representation of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla

He always tried first to negotiate the surrender of the cities they besieged, but in most cases he had little success in this regard. He participated in the Conspiracy of Querétaro, whose failure was precisely what led him to the call to arms.

He won several military victories in the first weeks of the conflict, but he and his men are also blamed for some error in that area. Not being a soldier by profession, the bad maneuver effected when they were about to take Mexico City could cause the defeat of that first attempt at independence.

Biography

First years of Miguel Hidalgo

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla came to the world on May 9, 1753, at the Hacienda de Corralejo, Pénjamo (Guanajuato). His father, Creole, was the administrator of the hacienda and had a good economic position.

This allowed him to train in one of the best educational centers in Valladolid (Morelia), at that time in the hands of the Jesuits. He completed his studies in Mexico City. He also spoke French and, because of his contact with the indigenous workers of the hacienda where he grew up, he spoke the Nahuatl, Purépecha and Otomí languages.

At age 20 he obtained a bachelor's degree in philosophy and Latin, and got a chair in San Nicolás. His career in this field was very successful and he ended up being rector of the center.

I work as a priest

In addition to his teaching career, Hidalgo had a strong religious vocation. Thus, in 1778 he became a priest. After a few years, he is assigned to the parish of Dolores, Guanajuato.

In that locality his social work begins, showing a great preoccupation by the conditions of the natives. He became a kind of teacher, teaching them how to cultivate vineyards, the art of beekeeping and managing small businesses for themselves.

From that time date their first encounters with intellectual circles that began to consider another type of relationship with Spain. It is in these meetings that the idea of ​​independence begins to germinate.

From Querétaro to the Grito de Dolores

Conspiracy of Querétaro

It was the year 1810 and the Napoleonic conquest of Spain had also affected the Colony, not willing to be under French rule. The previous year the so-called Conspiracy of Valladolid had taken place, which had been dismantled by the Spanish authorities.

In Querétaro the atmosphere was similar to that of Valladolid. The corregidor Miguel Domínguez, along with his wife Josefa Ortiz, had begun to gather supporters to start a revolt of their own. Among those supporters were men like Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama.

Allende is in charge of contacting Hidalgo, whom they consider to be very valuable to participate in the plot. The priest had very good relations with several influential people, both in the political and religious world.

In principle, what the conspiracy intended was the same as the previous one in Valladolid. They did not speak of independence, but of creating a governing junta to run the country on behalf of Ferdinand VII, the Spanish king deposed by Napoleon. The conspirators set a date to start their actions: October 2.

Failure of the conspiracy

The plans of the conspirators leaked soon. The Spanish authorities, led by the new Viceroy Francisco Venegas, take action. On September 11 they try to capture the rebels but they only manage to apprehend one of them.

It was the wife of the corregidor, Doña Josefa, who played a fundamental role in saving other conspirators. Upon learning of the raid, he manages to warn Allende and he runs to warn Hidalgo.

Cry of pain

The failure of the conspiracy makes Hidalgo resort to more forceful means. Then, he decides to call the population to arms on September 16, 1810. The phrase he says the night before to Aldama and Allende makes his position very clear:

"Yes, I thought about it well, and I see that we are lost and that there is no other recourse but to go and catch gachupines."

That same night he speaks with his parishioners to ask for support. It also frees political prisoners who were prisoners and calls a mass for the next morning.

Good part of the town went to the call and Hidalgo sends a proclamation that will go down in history as the Grito de Dolores. In this proclamation he calls to take up arms against the authorities of the Colony.

The war begins

The first days of the war are very favorable for Hidalgo and his supporters. Together with Aldama, Allende and Abasolo, they manage to take Celaya and Salamanca. Shortly after, Hidalgo is named general of the insurgents in Acámbaro, and in Atotonilco he chooses the standard of the Virgin of Guadalupe as his symbol.

Toma de Guanajuato

On September 28, one of the most important battles of the war takes place. This is the Toma de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas, in Guanajuato. Hidalgo tried to negotiate with the mayor, but he did not accede to his requests and preferred to resist militarily.

The rebels ended up taking the city and all the Spaniards who inhabited it were killed. After this, they launched for Valladolid.

Battle of Monte de los Cruces

Hidalgo's army then goes to Mexico City. The Battle of Monte de las Cruces is nearby, where they beat the Spaniards. However, having the capital very close, they decide to withdraw, which could change the fate of the war.

Revolutionary Government of Guadalajara

One of the milestones in the life of Miguel Hidalgo and, it can be said, in the history of Mexico, is the creation of a revolutionary government. It was in November 1810, in the city of Guadalajara.

Hidalgo proclaims the independence of the country and makes several laws. Among these are an agrarian reform and the abolition of slavery. In addition, it eliminates the taxes that the natives paid to the Spaniards and returns the lands that had been usurped.

But on the military side, the realists begin to counterattack very effectively. The troops commanded by General Calleja inflict a blow to those of Hidalgo at the Battle of Puente Calderón, on January 17, 1811.

The first dissensions begin to appear on the separatist side. In fact, Allende confesses that he had tried to poison Hidalgo. In disarray by the defeats, Hidalgo is stripped of the status of army chief by his companions.

Treason and capture

The revolutionary priest flees to Aguascalientes, trying to reach the border with the United States. His pretense was to look for allies to continue the fight, but he and his companions are betrayed by Elizondo.

The army was waiting for them at the Norias de Acatita de Baján on May 21, 1811. They were all captured and taken to the authorities.

Civil and ecclesiastical judgment

As a member of the Church, Miguel Hidalgo had to face two different judicial procedures: the military and the ecclesiastic.

The second of these, carried out by the court of the Holy Inquisition, removed him from his position as priest, a necessary condition for his execution.

The military trial, held in Chihuahua, sentenced him to death on July 3, 1811. His words about the reasons for the rebellion were that as a citizen he had to defend his homeland.

Death

On July 30, 1811 Miguel Hidalgo was executed at dawn. He requested that his eyes not be blindfolded and that they not shoot him in the back as they did with traitors.

A soldier cut his head to earn 20 pesos of reward and, along with that of Allende and Aldama, was displayed in Alhóndiga de las Granaditas. The three heads remained hanging in the sight of all for 10 years as a warning for those who thought revolt against Spain.

After independence, his body was exhumed and his head recovered. He was buried with all the honors in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico.

References

1. The poor of the earth. Biography of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Retrieved from lospobresdelatierra.org
2. Unknown Mexico Miguel Hidalgo, the"Father of the country." Retrieved from mexicodesconocido.com.mx
3. Mexico 2010. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Retrieved from bicentenario.gob.mx
4. Biography Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Retrieved from biography.com
5. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Retrieved from britannica.com
6. Minster, Christopher. Biography of Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
   
7. Herz, May. Don Miguel Hidalgo: Father of Our Independence. Retrieved from inside-mexico.com
8. Library of Congress. Cry of Dolores. Retrieved from loc.gov