Editing Agustín de Iturbide (section)

==In historical memory==
[[File:Flag of Mexico (1821-1823).svg|thumb|right|Flag of the [[First Mexican Empire]], 1821–23]]
Early in the independence period of Mexico's history, the day used to mark Independence was based on one's political stance. Conservatives favored 27 September for celebration, when Iturbide entered Mexico City at the head of the conquering army, but Liberals preferred 16 September to celebrate Hidalgo's call for rebellion against Spain.<ref name="Brunk"/> In modern Mexico, the liberal tendency has dominated, such that much writing about Iturbide is often hostile, seeing him as a fallen hero, who betrayed the nation by grasping for personal power after independence. Since the 1949 publication of a historical novel, ''La Güera Rodríguez''<ref>Artemio Valle Arizpe, ''La Güera Rodríguez''. Mexico: 1949; Mexico: Porrúa 1950 {{ISBN?}}{{page?|date=September 2024}}</ref> about Iturbide's aristocratic friend, Doña [[María Ignacia Rodríguez de Velasco]], Iturbide was cast in the novel as her paramour, having an illicit affair with her. Although the portrayal of her was as a libertine, the notion was based on uncorroborated rumors and innuendo, with nothing ever proven, and then exaggerated in fiction. As her posthumous reputation as a "heroine of Mexican independence" has risen beginning in the late twentieth century, Iturbide's has continued to be something much less than that of Mexico's Liberator.<ref>Arrom, ''La Güera Rodríguez''</ref> A two-volume work on Mexican independence contrasts Hidalgo and Iturbide, with the subtitle "the glory and the oblivion".<ref>Fuentes Aguirre Catón, Armando, ''La otra historia: Hidalgo e Iturbide, la gloria y el olvido'', 2 vols. 2008; repr. Mexico City: Planeta 2014</ref>

Iturbide's strategy of defining a plan and using the military to back it began a tradition in Mexican politics that would dominate the country' history. He can be considered Mexico's first "[[caudillo]]," or charismatic military leader, using a combination of widespread popularity and threat of violence toward opposition to rule and would be followed by army generals Antonio López de Santa Anna and Porfirio Díaz, who came to dominate their respective eras.<ref name="Kirkwood"/> During the 1910 centenary celebrations of independence, the remains of Iturbide were not placed at the [[Angel of Independence|"El Ángel"]] with other leaders of independence, but stayed in the National Cathedral. Following the [[Mexican Revolution]] 1910–20, victorious revolutionary general and newly elected president of Mexico [[Álvaro Obregón]] mounted a massive centenary celebration for Mexican independence, even larger than the one that [[Porfirio Díaz]] had staged in 1910 to commemorate Hidalgo's revolt, considered the outbreak of the War of Independence. It was the first time since the mid-19th century that the date was commemorated.<ref>Lacy, Elaine C, "The 1921 Centennial Celebration of Mexico's Independence: State Building and Popular Negotiation," in William H. Beezley and David Lorey, eds. ''!Viva Mexico!!Viva la Independencia!: Celebrations of 16 September''. Wilmington, DL: Scholarly Resources 2001, p. 199. {{ISBN?}}</ref> Given that Obregón himself was a military strong man, his 1921 commemoration of Mexican independence and Iturbide was an opportunity for him to assert his own state-building vision by appropriating a piece of Mexico's history. By overseeing the ceremonies, Obregón could shape and consolidate his own position in power, which was then relatively weak.<ref>Lacy, "The 1921 Centennial Celebration," p. 201.</ref> The [[Mexican Army]] benefited from the celebrations with new uniforms and equipment, and there was even a re-enactment of Iturbide's triumphal entry into Mexico City.<ref>Lacy, "The 1921 Centennial Celebration," p. 203.</ref>

Mexico owes the country's name "Mexico" to Iturbide, as opposed to "United Mexican States." While the latter is considered the official name, the inhabitants of the country refer to it by the name of Mexico. Another legacy that Iturbide left to Mexico was its [[flag of Mexico|modern flag]], still used today. The three colors of red, white, and green originally represented the three guarantees of the Plan of Iguala: Freedom, Religion, and Union. In the place of the Spanish emblem for Mexico, he resurrected the old [[Tenochtitlan]] symbol for Mexico City, an eagle perched on a [[nopal]] cactus holding a snake in its beak. With it, he hoped to link Mexican empire with the [[Aztec Empire|Aztec one]].<ref name="Alvaro"/><ref name="Rosainz"/> Iturbide is noted in the ''[[Himno Nacional Mexicano]]'', the national anthem for the country. One stanza translates as follows: "If to battle against the foreign host, the warrior trumpet invokes us, Mexicans, the Sacred flag of Iturbide bravely follow. Let the conquered banners serve as a carpet to the brave steeds, may the laurels of triumph bring shade to the brow of the brave Captain."