Editing Agustín de Iturbide (section)

==Exile==
[[File:Agustín_Jeronimo_de_Iturbide_y_Huarte.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide (firstborn son of Emperor of Mexico), a veteran of the battle of Ayacucho in Colombia, worked at the Mexican legation in London, UK, and later volunteered with the Papal Army.]]

On his way to exile, Iturbide and his family were escorted by former insurgent leader Nicolás Bravo, who treated Iturbide harshly. Though the republican movement had triumphed, the people still held Iturbide in high regard and greatly admired him. On his way out of the city, his carriage was surrounded by the people, the horses dismissed and the people sought to drag the carriage themselves out of the city. That treatment was customary in the entrances or exits of great figures in or out of a city. The soldiers escorting Iturbide prevented that from happening and would henceforth lead the former emperor on hidden roads, as the government feared a popular rising in favor of Iturbide.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

On 11 May 1823, the ex-emperor boarded the British ship ''Rawlins'' en route to [[Livorno]], Italy (then part of the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]]),<ref name="Hamue"/> accompanied by his wife, children, and some servants. There, he rented a small country house and began to write his memoirs, known under the name of [[Declaration to the world|Manifiesto de Liorna]]. Iturbide and his family struggled financially during this time despite claims by historians and some members of the Congress that deposed him that Iturbide had indulged in illegal enrichment throughout his military career and rule. In exile, Iturbide was approached by a Catholic coalition of nations that sought to enlist his help in a campaign to reconquer México for Spain. Iturbide declined. Spain pressured Tuscany to expel Iturbide, and the Iturbide family moved to England.<ref name="casaimperial"/>

There, he published his autobiography, ''Statement of Some of the Principal Events in the Public Life of Agustín de Iturbide''. When he was exiled, Iturbide was accorded a government pension, but it was never received by Iturbide. Congress also declared him a traitor and "outside of the law" to be killed if he ever returned to Mexico. Iturbide was unaware of the penalty. After his death, many an author decried the decree calling for Iturbide's death, as it was against all known precepts of the law at the time: it was unheard of that a law could be issued solely against a specific citizen, instead of issuing a general law that would be applied to particular cases.

Reports of a probable further Spanish attempt to retake Mexico reached Iturbide in England.<ref name="Raggett"/><ref name="Tuck"/> He wrote in his memoirs that he was very worried about the future of Mexico. He continued to receive reports from Mexico and advice from supporters that if he returned he would be hailed as a liberator and a potential leader against the Spanish invasion.<ref name="Raggett"/> Iturbide sent word to congress in Mexico City on 13 February 1824 offering his services in the event of Spanish attack.  Congress never replied.<ref name="manfut"/>

Conservative political factions in Mexico finally convinced Iturbide to return.<ref name="elbalero"/><ref name="Tuck"/>