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113-572: In 1934 San Ángel was declared a Pueblo Típico Pintoresco (Picturesque Typical Town); in 1987 it was declared a historical monument zone. San Ángel is located in the southwest of the Federal District of Mexico along the southern end of Avenida Insurgentes , bordering the Ciudad Universitaria of UNAM . For most of its history, the area was politically and physically separate from the urban sprawl of Mexico City, becoming integrated with

226-498: A "Barrio Mágico" by the city in 2011. The architectonic value of this zone is incalculable. Little by little, this value is being lost to modernity, but in general most of the buildings and spaces that represent various architectural styles such as baroque , neoclassical , and neocolonial have been preserved. The main features of this zone are its monuments, plazas, narrow stone-paved streets, single or two floored houses made of brick or painted with vivid colors, balconies facing

339-680: A customs house . However, Iturbide subsequently removed Santa Anna from the post, prompting Santa Anna to rise in rebellion in December 1822 against Iturbide. He already had significant power in his home region of Veracruz, and "he was well along the path to becoming the regional caudillo ." Santa Anna claimed in his Plan of Veracruz that he rebelled because Iturbide had dissolved the Constituent Congress. He also promised to support free trade with Spain, an important principle for his home region of Veracruz. Although Santa Anna's initial rebellion

452-593: A deal. Once back in Mexico at the head of an army, however, Santa Anna reneged on the deal and took up arms against the U.S. invasion. With no path now for a quick resolution to the conflict in the north, Polk authorized an invasion to take Mexico City, redirecting the bulk of General Zachary Taylor 's troops to General Winfield Scott 's army. Santa Anna mobilized troops and artillery and rapidly marched north. His forces outnumbered Taylor's, but his troops were exhausted, ill-clothed, hungry and equipped with inferior weapons when

565-582: A force of 2,600 troops. Santa Anna marched against the Barradas Expedition with a much smaller force and defeated the Spaniards, many of whom were suffering from yellow fever. The defeat of the Spanish Army not only firmly established Santa Anna as a national hero but also consolidated the independence of the new Mexican republic. From this point forward, Santa Anna styled himself the "Victor of Tampico" and

678-474: A lack of proper clothing and food shortages. Stretching a supply line far longer than ever before, there were not enough horses, mules, cattle and wagons available, resulting in units never having enough food, fuel, or feed. The medical facilities were minimal and poorly supplied. Morale sank as soldiers realized there were not enough chaplains to properly bury their bodies. Hostile Indians picked off stragglers and foragers. Waterborne sicknesses spread quickly when

791-509: A lair for the popular bandit Chucho el Roto , reason why the house is also referred to by his name. The house was restored and now houses the Biblioteca de las Revoluciones de México. Casa Blanca This casona belonged to the Oploca counts and resembles the countryside houses from the 17th century. Its facade portrays a now blurry coat of arms. It had the second biggest orchard of San Ángel, after

904-460: A lawyer; his mother was Manuela Pérez de Lebrón y Cortés (died 1814). Santa Anna's family prospered in Veracruz, where the merchant class dominated politics. His paternal uncle, Ángel López de Santa Anna, was a public clerk ( escribano ) and became aggrieved when the town council of Veracruz prevented him from moving to Mexico City to advance his career. Since the late 18th-century Bourbon Reforms ,

1017-565: A marsh; the general had hastily dressed himself in a dead Mexican dragoon's uniform but was quickly recognized. After three weeks in captivity. Texas President David G. Burnet and Santa Anna signed the Treaties of Velasco stating that "in his official character as chief of the Mexican nation, he acknowledged the full, entire, and perfect Independence of the Republic of Texas." In exchange, Burnet and

1130-535: A promoter of federal republicanism. Although Santa Anna was believed to be a supporter of the Scottish Rite conservatives, and Santa Anna was himself a member of the Scottish Rite, in the Montaño rebellion he eventually threw his support to the liberals. In his home state of Veracruz, the governor had thrown his support to the rebels, and in the aftermath of the rebellion's failure, Santa Anna as vice-governor stepped into

1243-403: A test case for liberalism. At this point, Santa Anna was a liberal; by giving the moderate Gómez Farías responsibility for the reforms, he could have plausible deniability and closely monitor the reaction to a comprehensive attack on the special privileges of the army and the church, as well as confiscation of church wealth, enacted by Congress. In May 1834, Santa Anna ordered the disarmament of

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1356-506: Is Casa del Risco from the 17th century. Its interior contains a highly ornate Baroque fountain covered in plates, platters, cups and other ceramic pieces from Asia, Europe and Mexico. On the west side of the plaza is the Church of San Jacinto. The Dominicans founded this church in 1596 dedicated to Saint Hyacinth . Its main altar is wood covered in gold. The former monastery is austere and served as such until 1754. The Plazuela de los Licenciados

1469-480: Is home to many upscale restaurants (particularly along Avenida de la Paz); boutique shopping center Plaza Grand San Ángel and the more commercial Plaza Loreto serve the affluent living in the southwest of the city. San Ángel itself hosts no large malls with department or big box stores. The Mercado del Carmen contains a food hall and design shops. The neighborhood also hosts a concentration of upscale interior design and furniture showrooms along Altavista street, and near

1582-535: Is located in the southwest of Mexico City in the Ciudad Universitaria . It is one of the few undisturbed natural ecosystems in the Valley of Mexico. It is distinguished as being over a relatively solid bed of volcanic rock, from an eruption of the nearby volcano Xitle and has a number of unique plant and animal species. The San Ángel area was originally called Tenanitla, which means "walled in place" in Nahuatl. This referred to

1695-530: Is located near Volcán Ajusco in the intersection with the Viaducto Tlalpan avenue, where it becomes Highway 95 in direction to Cuernavaca . The northern terminus is located in the intersection with Avenida Acueducto where it becomes the highway to Pachuca . The avenue crosses five of the 16 boroughs of the city. Many of Mexico City's emblematic colonias (such as Condesa , Roma , Del Valle , Napoles , San Ángel , Pedregal ) are either crossed or on

1808-631: Is on Calle de Juárez with three notable residences. One is in European style, another is from the 18th century and the last was the former Hospital Real de Naturales. A short distance from this plaza is another structure called the Casa Blanca which is possibly the oldest in San Ángel, built in the middle of the 17th century by the Counts of Oploca. Its orchards were second only to those of El Carmen. The Plaza de Arcangeles

1921-474: Is small and not well known but it is distinct in its abundance of trees and other vegetation. Its name comes from three large sandstone benches with the name of the Archangels Gabriel , Michael and Rafael on them. The Museo Casa Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo is on Altavista and Diego Rivera Streets. These were dual houses, one for each painter, connected which served as homes and work spaces for

2034-489: Is topped by three domes covered in glazed tile. The entire monastery complex was complete in 1628. It was surrounded by large tracts of gardens and orchards, much of which is now Colonia Chimalistac to the east. These orchards made the monastery wealthy and famous. The monastery and school area came under the custody of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia in 1939 which still maintains it. The current museum

2147-504: Is very true that I threw up my cap for liberty with great ardor, and perfect sincerity, but very soon found the folly of it. A hundred years to come my people will not be fit for liberty. They do not know what it is, unenlightened as they are, and under the influence of Catholic clergy, a despotism is a proper government for them, but there is no reason why it should not be a wise and virtuous one." After some time in exile, and after meeting U.S. President Andrew Jackson in 1837, Santa Anna

2260-867: The Circuito Interior and Anillo Periférico highway rings twice. Mexico City Metrobús Line 1 , inaugurated in 2005, runs on Avenida de los Insurgentes for 28.1 km, almost all of the avenue's length, from Indios Verdes to El Caminero. Several Mexico City Metro stations are also located on Avenida de los Insurgentes, most notably the Insurgentes station of Line 1 , at the Glorieta de los Insurgentes . General Santa Anna Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , usually known as Antonio López de Santa Anna ( Spanish pronunciation: [anˈtonjo ˈlopes ðe sanˈtana] ; 21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), or just Santa Anna ,

2373-665: The Mexican War of Independence , which entailed fighting the insurgency before switching sides against the crown, presaged his many shifts in allegiance during his later political career. In June 1810, the 16-year-old Santa Anna joined the Fijo de Veracruz infantry regiment. In September of that year, secular cleric Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla sparked a spontaneous mass uprising in the Bajío , Mexico's rich agricultural area. Although some creole elites had chafed as their upward mobility had been thwarted by

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2486-617: The Pastry War . The Mexican government gave Santa Anna control of the army and ordered him to defend the nation by any means necessary. Santa Anna engaged the French at Veracruz but was forced to retreat after a failed assault, sustaining injuries in his left leg and hand by cannon fire. His shattered ankle required amputation of much of his leg, which he ordered buried with full military honors. Despite Mexico's final capitulation to French demands, Santa Anna used his war service and visible sacrifice to

2599-545: The Reform War , with only the church portion remaining completely intact. The school portion, called the Colegio, was disputed between the municipal governments of Mexico City and San Ángel, which were separate at that time. The dispute was settled in San Ángel's favor in 1874 by Manuel Payno . However, parts of the school would be destroyed in 1891 to make way for the railroad connecting Mexico City to Tizapán . What remained became

2712-589: The Republic of the Rio Grande , the Republic of Yucatán , and the Republic of Texas . Their fierce resistance was possibly fueled by Santa Anna's reprisals committed against his defeated enemies. The New York Post editorialized that "had Santa Anna treated the vanquished with moderation and generosity, it would have been difficult if not impossible to awaken that general sympathy for the people of Texas which now impels so many adventurous and ardent spirits to throng to

2825-560: The Second French Intervention in Mexico , and the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire . An elderly Santa Anna was allowed to return to the nation by President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in 1874, and he died in relative obscurity in 1876. Historians debate the exact number of his presidencies, as he would often share power and make use of puppet rulers ; biographer Will Fowler gives the figure of six terms while

2938-512: The Spanish crown had favored peninsular-born Spaniards over American-born; young Santa Anna's family was affected by the growing disgruntlement of creoles whose upward mobility was thwarted. Santa Anna's mother favored her son's choice of a military career, supporting his desire to join the Spanish Army , rather than be a shopkeeper as his father preferred. His mother's friendly relationship with

3051-674: The Texas State Historical Association claims five. Historian of Latin America, Alexander Dawson counts eleven times that Santa Anna assumed the presidency, often for short periods. The University of Texas Libraries cites the same figure of eleven times, but adds Santa Anna was only president for six years due to short terms. Santa Anna's legacy has subsequently come to be viewed as profoundly negative, with historians and many Mexicans ranking him as "the principal inhabitant even today of Mexico's black pantheon of those who failed

3164-458: The intendant (governor) of Veracruz secured Santa Anna's military appointment despite the fact that he was underage. His parents' marriage produced seven children, four sisters and two brothers, and Santa Anna was close to his sister Francisca and brother Manuel, who also joined the army. Santa Anna's origins on Mexico's eastern coast had important ramifications for his military career, as he had developed immunity from yellow fever , endemic to

3277-699: The "Age of Santa Anna". Santa Anna was in charge of the garrison at Veracruz at the time Mexico won independence in 1821. He would go on to play a notable role in the fall of the First Mexican Empire , the fall of the First Mexican Republic , the promulgation of the Constitution of 1835 , the establishment of the Centralist Republic of Mexico , the Texas Revolution , the Pastry War ,

3390-507: The "Savior of the Patria". His main act of self-promotion was to call himself the " Napoleon of the West". Three months later, in December 1829, Vice-president Anastasio Bustamante , a conservative, mounted a successful coup d'etat against President Guerrero, who left Mexico City to lead a counter-rebellion in the south. Guerrero was captured and executed after a summary trial in 1831, which shocked

3503-434: The "absentee president". Vice-president Valentín Gómez Farías took over the responsibility of governing the nation while Santa Anna retired to Manga de Clavo , his hacienda in Veracruz. Gómez Farías was a moderate, but he had a radical liberal congress with which to contend, perhaps a reason that Santa Anna left executive power to him. Mexico was faced with an empty treasury and an 11 million peso debt incurred by

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3616-418: The "protector of the federation". Representatives from San Luis Potosí and other north-central regions, such as Michoacán , Querétaro , and Guanajuato , met to decide their own position towards the federation. Santa Anna pledged his military forces to the protection of these key areas. "He attempted, in other words, to co-opt the movement, the first of many examples in his long career where he placed himself as

3729-560: The Bourbon Reforms, the Hidalgo Revolt saw most creoles favoring continued crown rule. In particular, Santa Anna's family "saw themselves as aligned to the peninsular elite, whom they served, and were in turn recognized as belonging". Initially Santa Anna, like most creole military officers, fought for the crown against the mixed-raced insurgents for independence; his commanding officer was Colonel José Joaquín de Arredondo . In 1811 he

3842-538: The Bustamante government. Gómez Farías could not cut back on the bloated expenditures on the army and sought other revenues. Taking a chapter out of the late Bourbon Reforms, he targeted the Roman Catholic Church . Anticlericalism was a tenet of Mexican liberalism , and the church had supported Bustamante's government, so targeting that institution was a logical move. Tithing (a 10% tax on agricultural production)

3955-611: The Centro Cultural San Ángel. Near this are two former mansions which belonged to the Mariscal de Castilla. More of the area's mansions are found on La Amargura Street including one that belonged to the Fagoaga family. This structure dates from the 18th century and belonged to Francisco Fagoaga , who ran the colonial coin mint . It is said that it was also inhabited by Archbishop Alonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta . Another house on this street

4068-509: The Híjar-Padrés colony to bolster non-mission civilian settlement, as well as defend the province against perceived Russian colonial ambitions from the trading post at Fort Ross . However, for liberal intellectual and Catholic priest José María Luis Mora , selling church property was the key to "transforming Mexico into a liberal, progressive nation of small landowners." Sale of nonessential church property would bring in much-needed revenue to

4181-556: The Insurgents ), sometimes known simply as Insurgentes , is the longest avenue in Mexico City , with a length of 28.8 km (17.9 mi) on a north-south axis across the city. Insurgentes has its origins in what was during the early 20th century known as the Via del Centenario which ran from city centre to the southern suburbs. Many decades later, after it was paved and widened, its name

4294-765: The Mexican people from invasive troops. In 1933, the Casa del Risco was acquired by Isidro Fabela who donated it to the Mexican people along with his art collection in 1963. The collection consists of more than 1,500,000 documents and around 1,500 photographs, most of them related to the Mexican Revolution . Thanks to that, it now hosts the Centro Cultural Isidro Fabela. Apart from the Historical Archive and some galleries, it has an auditorium where cultural and academic activities are held. The mayor attraction of

4407-507: The Mexican-American War, President Mariano Paredes was removed from office, with the new government seeking to reinstate the constitution of 1824, with Santa Anna again assuming the presidency. Santa Anna, who had been in exile for only a year, returned to Mexico on 6 August 1846, two days after Paredes' ouster. He wrote to the new government stating he had no aspirations to the presidency but would eagerly use his military experience in

4520-533: The North was routed. The Battle for Mexico City and the Battle of Chapultepec , like the others, were hard fought losses, and American forces took the capital. "Despite his many faults as a tactician and his overbearing political ambition, Santa Anna was committed to fighting to the bitter end. His actions would prolong the war for at least a year, and more than any other single person it was Santa Anna who denied Polk's dream of

4633-498: The Spanish were reinforcing their colony, so the invasion was called off. Former insurgent general Guadalupe Victoria , a liberal federalist, became the first president of the Mexican republic in 1824, following the creation of the constitution of 1824 . Victoria came to the presidency with little factional conflict, and served out his entire four-year term. However, the election of 1828

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4746-519: The Teatro López Tarso. Casa de los Dos Patios This casona was built at the end of the 19th century by philanthropist Francisco de Urquiaga. It features a neoclassical style, popular during the Porfiriato . Its name refers to the two patios the house possesses, the main one with a garden and rooms surrounding it and a secondary one used to keep carriages and horses. Legend tells that it served as

4859-687: The Texas government guaranteed Santa Anna's safety and transport to Veracruz. Meanwhile, in Mexico City, a new government declared that Santa Anna was no longer president and that the Treaties were null and void. While Santa Anna was held captive in Texas, Poinsett offered a harsh assessment of his situation: "Say to General Santa Anna that when I remember how ardent an advocate he was of liberty ten years ago, I have no sympathy for him now, that he has gotten what he deserves." Santa Anna replied: "Say to Mr. Poinsett that it

4972-577: The aid of their brethren." The Zacatecas militia, the largest and best supplied of the Mexican states, led by Francisco García Salinas , was well armed with .753 caliber British ' Brown Bess ' muskets and Baker .61 rifles . But, after two hours of combat on 12 May 1835, Santa Anna's "Army of Operations" defeated the Zacatecan militia and took almost 3,000 prisoners. He allowed his army to loot Zacatecas City for forty-eight hours. After conquering Zacatecas, he planned to move on to Coahuila y Tejas to quell

5085-424: The area is called the palo loco (crazy stick) because it blooms in the winter rather than the summer. The El Carmen complex is the identifying marker of San Ángel, especially the three tiled-covered domes of the church. It consists of church, former monastery and school buildings. The monastery school or "Colegio" was founded in 1613, but the building for it would not begin until two years later. This building

5198-429: The area remained rural and popular for visitors. San Ángel from this time period was described by traveler Marquesa Calderón de la Barca in her book Life in Mexico . At the end of the 19th century, a number of factories were set up here such as Loreto, La Alpina and La Hormiga, which raised the area's population. This was the beginning of the urbanization of San Ángel, although it would remain physically separate from

5311-468: The area's floral and fruit crops. When the Carmelites come to the area, they adapted the ritual to Our Lady of Mount Carmen, making her the patroness of the area. This resulted in a festival with both indigenous and Catholic elements. The modern version of the festival began in the late 19th century. Although the religious event continued through the colonial period, its popularity had waned. In 1885, an effort

5424-454: The avenues with vines and decorated front doors. In this neighborhood, you can find various casonas ; big, old, majestic houses that usually once belonged to someone important and now presume various architectural styles. Casa del Mayorazgo Fagoaga This casona from the 17th century was named after a knight of the Santiago order, Don Francisco de Fagoga who was the owner of the house. He

5537-497: The capital was dug up by a mob and dragged through the streets until nothing was left of it. Fearing for his life, Santa Anna tried to elude capture, but in January 1845 he was apprehended by a group of Native Americans near Xico . They turned him over to authorities, and he was imprisoned. Santa Anna's life was ultimately spared, but he was exiled to Cuba. In 1846, following American victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma in

5650-701: The central plaza a concentration of some of the more exclusive shops selling curated selections of Mexican folk art. San Ángel is served by Line 1 ( Insurgentes line) of the Mexico City Metrobús bus rapid transit system, by COREV (Corridor Revolución) buses, while the Miguel Ángel de Quevedo station on Line 3 of the Mexico City metro (subway) is about 1 kilometer east of the neighborhood. 19°20′49″N 99°11′13″W  /  19.347°N 99.187°W  / 19.347; -99.187 Avenida Insurgentes Avenida de los Insurgentes (English: Avenue of

5763-510: The city in the mid-20th century. The community is surrounded by a volcanic rock bed called the Pedregal, which was formed by the eruption of nearby Xitle Volcano about 2,000 years ago. Parts of this volcanic rock bed have been made into protected areas such as the Pedregal de San Ángel. This area is estimated to have a total of 350 native plant species, 100 species of birds, forty species of mammals and twenty of reptiles. The representative plant of

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5876-545: The civic militia and urged Congress to abolish the controversial Ley del Caso . On 12 June he dissolved Congress and announced his decision to adopt the Plan of Cuernavaca, forming a new Catholic, centralist and conservative government. Santa Anna brokered a deal where, in exchange for preserving the privileges of the church and the army, the church promised a monthly donation to the government of 30,000–40,000 pesos. "The santanistas [supporters of Santa Anna] succeeded in achieving what

5989-479: The convent, looking for treasure. What they found in the crypt area instead were a number of well-preserved, naturally occurring mummies. The museum has twelve mummies on display in the crypt area, however, many are in deteriorating condition because they are not in hermetically sealed cases. Around the Plaza del Carmen , there are a number of historic buildings such as the old municipal palace, which has been converted into

6102-545: The country. Centro Cultural San Ángel The original structure of this cultural center was part of the Colegio Del Carmen. Halfway through the 19th century, the Colegio Del Carmen was demolished almost in its totality to edify San Ángel's Municipal Palace, finished in 1887. A century later, June 23, 1987, the edification was finally destined to be the Centro Cultural San Ángel, having its opening ceremony January 29, 1988. It now holds various temporal expositions and houses

6215-484: The country. Gómez Farías claimed that Santa Anna was the driving force for the law, which evidence seems to support. With increasing resistance from the church as well as the army, the Plan of Cuernavaca was issued, likely orchestrated by former general and governor of the Federal District, José María Tornel . The plan called for repeal of the Ley del Caso ; discouraged tolerance of the influence of Masonic lodges , where politics

6328-540: The defenders of Alamo was his only option, stressing that Texan commander William B. Travis was to blame for the degree of violence during the battle. Santa Anna believed that Travis was disrespectful towards him, and that if he had spared the Texans, it would have allowed Sam Houston to establish a dominant position that could threaten him later. The Mexican victory at the Alamo bought time for Houston and his Texas forces. During

6441-583: The elder Austin died. Santa Anna marched north to bring Texas back under Mexican control by a brutal show of force . His expedition posed challenges of manpower, logistics, supply and strategy far beyond what he was prepared for, and it ended in disaster. To fund, organize and equip his army, Santa Anna relied, as he often did, on forcing wealthy men to "loan" him funds. He recruited hastily, sweeping up many derelicts and ex-convicts, as well as Indians who could not understand Spanish commands. Having expected tropical weather, Santa Anna's army suffered from cold,

6554-644: The federalist constitution with a unitary central government, seemingly uneasy with their political path. "Although he has been blamed for the change to centralism, he was not actually present during any of the deliberations that led to the abolition of the federalist charter or the elaboration of the 1836 Constitution." Several states openly rebelled against the changes, including Alta California, Nuevo México , Tabasco , Sonora , Coahuila y Tejas , San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango , Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán, Jalisco , Nuevo León , Tamaulipas , and Zacatecas . Several of these states formed their own governments:

6667-504: The fight for independence. Political developments in Spain, where liberals had ousted King Ferdinand VII and began implementing the Spanish liberal constitution of 1812 , made many elites in Mexico reconsider their options. Iturbide, now Emperor Augustin I, rewarded Santa Anna with the command of the vital port of Veracruz, the gateway from the Gulf of Mexico to the rest of the nation and site of

6780-520: The fighting into Mexico City, with his supporters seizing an armory, the Acordada . President-elect Gómez Pedraza resigned and soon after went into exile , clearing the way for Guerrero to assume office. Santa Anna gained prominence for his role in Gómez Pedraza's ouster, and was lauded as a defender of federalism and democracy. In 1829, Spain made a final attempt to retake Mexico, invading Tampico with

6893-399: The governorship. In the 1828 election, Santa Anna supported Guerrero, who was a candidate for the presidency. Another important liberal, Lorenzo de Zavala , also supported Guerrero. However, conservative Manuel Gómez Pedraza won the indirect elections for the presidency, with Guerrero coming in second. Even before all the votes had been counted, Santa Anna raised a rebellion and called for

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7006-487: The halls of power in Mexico City, which were dominated by cliques of elite men, and thus he frequently made retreats to his base in Veracruz. He cultivated contact with ordinary Mexican men and pursued entertainments such as cockfighting . Over his career, Santa Anna was a populist caudillo , a strongman wielding both military and political power, similar to others who emerged in the wake of Spanish American wars of independence . Santa Anna's early military career during

7119-814: The head of a generalized movement so it would become an instrument of his advancement." In May 1823, following Iturbide's abdication as emperor in March, Santa Anna was sent to command in Yucatán . At the time, Yucatán's capital of Mérida and the port city of Campeche were in conflict. Yucatán's closest trade partner was Cuba, a Spanish colony. Santa Anna took it upon himself to plan a landing force from Yucatán in Cuba, which he envisioned would result in Cuban colonists welcoming their "liberators", most especially himself. One thousand Mexicans were already on ships to sail to Cuba when word came that

7232-453: The initial rebellion, the young officer witnessed Arredondo's fierce counterinsurgency policy of mass executions. The early fighting against the rebels gave way to guerrilla warfare and a military stalemate . When royalist officer Agustín de Iturbide switched sides in 1821 and allied with insurgent Vicente Guerrero , fighting for independence under the Plan of Iguala , Santa Anna also joined

7345-525: The invaders and protect the capital. For the Mexicans it would have been better if Scott could have been prevented from leaving the Gulf Coast, but they could not prevent Scott's march on Xalapa . Santa Anna set defenses at Cerro Gordo . U.S. forces outflanked him and against strong odds defeated his army. With that battle, the way was clear for Scott's forces to advance further onto Mexico City. Santa Anna's aim

7458-405: The liberal Constitution of 1824 in 1835 and in restoring it in 1847. He came to power as a liberal twice in 1832 and in 1847 respectively, both times sharing power with the liberal statesman Valentín Gómez Farías , and both times Santa Anna overthrew Gómez Farías after switching sides to the conservatives. Santa Anna was also known for his ostentatious and dictatorial style of rule, making use of

7571-524: The men were forced to drink any water they could find on the trail. The officers proved to be mostly incompetent, yet the highly insulated and rigid hierarchy of the army meant that Santa Anna was kept ignorant of these problems. Santa Anna's forces killed 189 Texan defenders at the Battle of the Alamo on 6 March 1836, and executed more than 342 Texan prisoners at the Goliad Massacre on 27 March 1836. However, his forces suffered unexpectedly heavy casualties. In an 1874 letter, Santa Anna asserted that killing

7684-462: The military to dissolve Congress multiple times and referring to himself by the honorific title of His Most Serene Highness . His intermittent periods of rule, which lasted from 1832 to 1853, witnessed the loss of Texas , a series of military failures during the Mexican–American War, and the ensuing Mexican Cession . His leadership in the war and his willingness to fight to the bitter end prolonged that conflict: "more than any other single person it

7797-405: The museum is a Baroque fountain made of tile, porcelain, seashells and Chinese crockery featuring figures of mermaids and fish. The main annual event in San Ángel is the Feria de las Flores (Flower Fair) in July. This event has its origins in the pre-Hispanic period as an event dedicated to Xiuhtecuitl, a god of flowers. The purpose of the original event was to seek the god's protection for

7910-456: The museum is well-visited is the mummies on display in the basement crypt area. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, one way that the order raised funds for its existence was to set aside crypts for donors from the wealthy families of the area. While many of these bodies would be exhumed after a number of years, with their bones stored in an "osorio" later, some of the interred here did not completely decompose. Between 1917 and 1918, troops ransacked

8023-434: The nation to re-enter Mexican politics. Soon after, with Bustamante's presidency descending into chaos, supporters asked Santa Anna to take control of the provisional government. Santa Anna was made president for the fifth time, taking over a nation with an empty treasury. The war with France had weakened the country, and the people were discontented. Also, a rebel army led by Generals José de Urrea and José Antonio Mexía ,

8136-468: The nation". He is considered one of the most unpopular and controversial Mexican presidents of the 19th century. Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón was born in Xalapa , Veracruz , Nueva España (New Spain), on 21 February 1794 into a respected Spanish family. He was named after his father, licenciado Antonio López de Santa Anna y Pérez (born 1761), a university graduate and

8249-575: The nation. In 1832, Santa Anna seized the customs revenues from Veracruz and declared himself in rebellion against Bustamante. The bloody conflict ended with Santa Anna forcing the resignation of Bustamante's cabinet, and an agreement was brokered for new elections in 1833. Santa Anna was elected president on 1 April 1833, but while he desired the title, he was not interested in governing. According to Mexican historian Enrique Krauze , "It annoyed him and bored him, and perhaps frightened him." A biographer of Santa Anna describes his role during this period as

8362-433: The new conflict with the U.S. U.S. President James K. Polk had hoped to acquire territory in the north by purchase or force, but the Mexican government was not willing to yield. In a gambit to change the dynamic, Polk sent agents to secretly meet with the exiled Santa Anna. They thought they had extracted a promise from him that they would lift a blockade of the Mexican coast to allow him to return and that he would broker

8475-401: The nullification of the election results, as well for a new law expelling Spanish nationals who he believed to have been in league with the conservatives. The rebellion initially had few supporters, although southern Mexican leader Juan Álvarez soon Santa Anna, while Zavala, under threat of arrest by the conservative Senate , fled to the mountains and organized his own rebellion. Zavala brought

8588-603: The one in the Convento Del Carmen. It housed invasive troops during the Mexican–American War in 1847. It also housed foreign troops during the Second French intervention in Mexico . Halfway through the 19th century, it was inhabited by judge José del Villar Bocanegra, who rearranged it to serve as barracks for a detachment of emperor Maximilian I of Mexico . Later on, it belonged to a nun congregation. The residence

8701-473: The pair. The structure was built by Juan O'Gorman as one of the first Functionalist structures in Mexico City. The museum has a notable collection of Judas figures made of paper and cardboard and burnt on Holy Saturday . The Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil is on Camino al Desierto de los Leones , which has one of the country's best contemporary art collections. It also is a research and support center for artists. The Pedregal de San Ángel Ecological Reserve

8814-488: The potential benefits of annexation by the more powerful U.S. Following the 1842 elections, at which a new Congress was elected which opposed his rule, Santa Anna attempted to restore the treasury by raising taxes. Several Mexican states stopped dealing with the central government in response, and Yucatán and Laredo declared themselves independent republics. With resentment growing, Santa Anna stepped down and fled Mexico City in December 1844. The buried leg he left behind in

8927-401: The productively of the lands, especially the orchards which had, at one time, over 13,000 trees. This prompted the community to rename itself San Ángel. The monastery complex remained important through the colonial period, but a series of misfortunes would lead to its closure by the end of the 19th century. Shortly after Independence, the complex lost many of its monks, who were Spanish born. It

9040-702: The promulgation of the Constitution of 1843 , and the Mexican–American War . He became well known in the United States due to his role in the Texas Revolution and in the Mexican–American War. Throughout his political career, Santa Anna was known for switching sides in the recurring conflict between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party . He managed to play a prominent role in both discarding

9153-522: The property of the Secretaría de Educación Pública in 1921. In 1939, it would come under the custody of INAH and in the 1950s, it was converted into a museum. The rest of San Ángel remained a rural farm community. The first change came in the second half of the 18th century, when wealthy families, such as that of the First Count of Revillagigedo, began to build country homes here. Through the 19th century,

9266-418: The radicals had failed to do: forcing the Church to assist the republic's daily fiscal needs with its funds and properties." On 4 January 1835, Santa Anna returned to his hacienda , placing Miguel Barragán as acting president. He soon replaced the 1824 constitution with the new document known as the " Siete Leyes " ("The Seven Laws"). Santa Anna did not involve himself with the conservative effort to replace

9379-457: The rebellion there, which was being supported by settlers from the United States . In 1835, Santa Anna repealed the Mexican constitution, which ultimately led to the beginning of the Texas Revolution. His reasoning for the repeal was that American settlers in Texas were not paying taxes or tariffs , claiming they were not recipients of any services provided by the Mexican government; as a result, new settlers were not allowed there. The new policy

9492-445: The rebels. The new coalition proclaimed the Plan of Casa Mata , which called for the end of the monarchy, restoration of the Constituent Congress, and creation of a republic and a federal system . No longer the main player in the movement against Iturbide or the creation of new political arrangements, Santa Anna sought to regain his position as a leader and marched forces to Tampico , then to San Luis Potosí, proclaiming his role as

9605-436: The reforms, Santa Anna was persuaded to return to the presidency and Gómez Farías resigned. This set the stage for conservatives to reshape Mexico's government from a federalist republic to a unitary central republic. For conservatives, the liberal reform of Gómez Farías was radical and threatened the power of the elites. Santa Anna's actions in allowing this first reform (followed by a more sweeping one in 1855) might have been

9718-486: The region. The port of Veracruz and environs were known to be unhealthy for those not native to the region, so he had a personal strategic advantage against military officers from elsewhere. Being an officer in a time of war was a way that a provincial, middle-class man could vault from obscurity to a position of leadership. Santa Anna distinguished himself in battle, a path that led him to a national political career. Santa Anna's provincial origins made him uncomfortable in

9831-541: The rest of urbanized Mexico City until the mid-20th century. Much of the area was not considered suitable for mass development until the 1950s, when the Ciudad Universitaria was constructed. The two growing areas would eventually join, completed with the construction of Avenida Insurgentes which divided the former gardens of El Carmen from those of Chimalistac. The construction of Avenida Revolución would then divide San Ángel into two parts. The Pedregal de San Ángel

9944-483: The side of Insurgentes. The Mexico City Metrobús bus rapid transit system, opened in 2005, runs along the avenue, from Tlalpan to Indios Verdes metro station . From north to south: Along with a myriad of skyscrapers, several shopping malls line the boulevard, including Perisur , Galerías Insurgentes , Centro Insurgentes, the one at World Trade Center Mexico City , and Forum Buenavista . Throughout its span, Insurgentes crosses several ejes viales as well as

10057-675: The siege, the Texian Navy had more time to plunder ports along the Gulf of Mexico, and the Texian Army gained more experience and weaponry. Despite Houston's lack of ability to maintain strict control of the Army, they completely routed Santa Anna's much larger army at the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836. The day after the battle, a small Texan force led by James Austin Sylvester captured Santa Anna near

10170-411: The solidified volcanic flow that surrounds the center of San Ángel, which came from the nearby Xitle Volcano about 2,000 years ago. The modern community has its roots in the establishment of two monastery complexes called San Jacinto and El Carmen in the 16th century, but the real center would be El Carmen. The Spanish town here was originally established with the name of San Jacinto Tenanitla. El Carmen

10283-428: The treasury. The army was also targeted for reform, since it was the largest single expenditure in the national budget. On Santa Anna's suggestion, the number of battalions was to be reduced as well as the number of generals and brigadiers. The government soon issued a law, the Ley del Caso, which called for the arrest of 51 politicians, including Bustamante, for holding "unpatriotic" beliefs and their expulsion from

10396-430: The two armies clashed at the Battle of Buena Vista on 22–23 February 1847. Hard fighting over two days brought an inconclusive result, with Santa Anna withdrawing from the field of battle overnight just as complete victory was at hand, taking war trophies such as cannons and battle flags as evidence of his victory. With Scott's army landing at Veracruz , Santa Anna's home ground, he rapidly moved southward to engage with

10509-518: Was Santa Anna who denied Polk 's dream of a short war." Even after the war was over, Santa Anna continued to cede national territory to the Americans through the Gadsden Purchase in 1853. After he was overthrown and exiled in 1855 through the liberal Plan of Ayutla , Santa Anna began to fade into the background in Mexican politics even as the nation entered the decisive period of the Reform War ,

10622-428: Was a Mexican soldier, politician, and caudillo who served as the 8th president of Mexico on multiple times between 1833 and 1855. He also served as vice president of Mexico from 1837 to 1839. He was a controversial and pivotal figure in Mexican politics during the 19th century, to the point that he has been called an "uncrowned monarch", and historians often refer to the three decades after Mexican independence as

10735-610: Was a response to the U.S. attempts to purchase Texas from Mexico. Like other states discontented with the central government, the Texas Department of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas rebelled in late 1835 and declared itself independent on 2 March 1836. The northeastern part of the state had been settled by numerous American immigrants. Moses Austin , the father of Stephen F. Austin , had his party accepted by Spanish authorities in exchange for defense against foreign threats. However, Mexico had declared independence from Spain before

10848-520: Was a rich silver and gold merchant from the New Spain colonial era, who separated the gold in Mexico City's coin house in 1735. The house was made with balconies in a Baroque style and it is made as a typical European house from the 19th century with a Neoclassic style. According to legend, when the Padiema Battle was happening, General Santa Anna was bowling at this property instead of fighting for

10961-523: Was abolished as a legal obligation, and church property and finances were seized. The church's role in education was reduced and the Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico closed. All this caused concern among Mexican conservatives. Gómez Farías sought to extend these reforms to the frontier province of Alta California , promoting legislation to secularize the Franciscan missions there. In 1833 he organized

11074-490: Was allowed to return to Mexico. He was transported aboard the USS Pioneer to retire to his hacienda in Veracruz. There he wrote a manifesto in which he reflected on his experiences and decision-making in Texas. In 1838, Santa Anna found a chance for redemption from the loss of Texas. After Mexico rejected demands for financial compensation for losses suffered by its citizens, France sent forces that landed in Veracruz in

11187-522: Was begun in 1597 when in the indigenous leader of Coyoacán , Felipe de Guzmán Itzolinque, along with Andrés de Mondragón and Elvira Gutierrez, donated lands to the Carmelites in the Tenanitla and Chimalistac areas. The monks used the land to establish their monastery and a school for monks, with the school, named San Ángel, inaugurated in 1613. The monastery and school became wealthy and powerful, mostly due to

11300-476: Was changed to Avenida de los Insurgentes, apparently happening during the administration of President Miguel Alemán , when the area attracted wealthy urbanites for sophisticated, modern housing. The avenue was named after the Insurgent Army ( Ejército de los Insurgentes ) that fought for Mexican independence from Spain during the Mexican War of Independence from 1810 to 1821. The avenue's southern terminus

11413-414: Was declared an ecological reserve in 1983. Since the 20th century, development pressures have increased, with many residential buildings being converted into commercial areas. To work to preserve the area's rural layout and historic buildings, San Ángel was made the city's first Patrimonial Cultural Tangible de la Ciudad de México (Tangible Cultural Heritage of Mexico City) in 2008. It was also designated as

11526-493: Was designed by Fray Andrés de San Miguel with the first stone laid in 1615, and it was operational in 1617. The school changed its name to Señora de Santa Ana in 1634, but while it retained the official name, it never caught on popularly. The church was built between 1624 and 1626 also dedicated to San Ángel Martír. The facade is Herrerian over which is its bell-gable , modeled after that of San José de Ávila in Spain . The structure

11639-408: Was important, Iturbide had loyal military men who were able to hold their own against the rebels in Veracruz. However, former insurgent leaders Guerrero and Nicolás Bravo , who had supported Iturbide's Plan de Iguala, returned to their base in southern Mexico and raised a rebellion against Iturbide. The commander of imperial forces in Veracruz, who had fought against the rebels, changed sides and joined

11752-594: Was made to rescue the tradition, having two events, one dedicated to the Our Lady of Mount Carmen and the other to Xiuhtecuitl. These were fused in 1940 by borough authorities with the name la Feria de las Flores de San Ángel. Since then, the event has become more secular. It begin with a parade of floats starting at the Parque de la Bombilla , and includes activities such as painting exhibitions and contests, concerts, dance and theater recitals, charreada and food tasting. San Ángel

11865-521: Was marching towards Mexico City in opposition to Santa Anna. Commanding the army, Santa Anna crushed the rebellion in Puebla . Santa Anna ruled in a more dictatorial fashion than during his first administration. His government banned anti-Santanista newspapers and jailed dissidents to suppress opposition. In 1842, he directed a military expedition into Texas . The action inflicted numerous casualties with no political gain, but Texans began to be persuaded of

11978-428: Was opened in 1955 and is one of the most visited in the city. The museum conserves a number of the monastery's original spaces, such as the dining room, and has one of the most important collections of colonial era art in Mexico, including a permanent exhibition called "The Silence of the Carmelites." This traces the history of the order from its origins through images, sculpture, documents, furniture and more. One reason

12091-429: Was pursued in secrecy; declared void the laws passed by Congress and the local legislatures in favor of the reforms; requested the protection of Santa Anna to fulfill the plan and recognize him as the only authority; removed from office deputies and officials who carried out enforcement of the reform laws and decrees; and provided military force to support Gómez Farías in implementing the plan. As opinion turned against

12204-519: Was quite different, with considerable political conflict in which Santa Anna became involved. Even before the election, there was unrest in Mexico, with some conservatives affiliated with the Scottish Rite Freemasons plotting rebellion. The so-called Montaño rebellion in December 1827 called for the prohibition of secret societies , implicitly meaning liberal York Rite Freemasons, and the expulsion of U.S. diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett ,

12317-492: Was the property of Porfirio Díaz . The Casa del Obispo Madrid, in contrast, is a simple adobe structure from 1631, which was the property of Bishop Fernández de Madrid . Later, it was inhabited by General Santa Anna and poet José Zorrilla . The Plaza de San Jacinto is the other main center of the area, best known for its Saturday art bazaar. It is also surrounded by former mansions, most of which have been converted into art galleries and restaurants. The most famous of these

12430-506: Was the site of a struggle called the Guerra de las Patentes (War of the Patents) over the payment of rental fees for farmland belonging to the monastery, which the monastery lost. During the Mexican–American War , U.S. troops sacked and destroyed some of its buildings and orchards and in 1856, the institution had to begin to partition and sell some of its lands. The monastery was closed as such during

12543-523: Was then bought and sold a number of times before being acquired by Mr. William Lucien Morkil in 1902. Casa del Risco This construction of the 17th century was the residence of various characters of Mexican history. During the regime of General Antonio López de Santa Anna the house was used as barracks during the Mexican–American War . Later on it became a hospital that served the Saint Patrick's Battalion , composed mainly by Irish soldiers who defended

12656-480: Was to protect the capital at all costs and waged defensive warfare, placing strong defenses on the most direct road into the city at El Peñon, which Scott then avoided. Battles at Contreras , Churubusco , and Molino del Rey were lost. At Contreras, Mexican General Gabriel Valencia , an old political and military rival of Santa Anna's, did not recognize his authority as supreme commander and disobeyed his orders as to where his troops should be placed. Valencia's Army of

12769-587: Was wounded in the left hand by an arrow while fighting in the town of Amoladeras, in the intendancy (administrative district) of San Luis Potosí . In 1813 he served in Texas against the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition and at the Battle of Medina , in which he was cited for bravery. Santa Anna was promoted quickly; he became a second lieutenant in February 1812 and first lieutenant before the end of that year. During

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