It's all in the carriage

Mexico City has a castle. Most non-Mexicans don't know about it, but it's true. The castle was originally designed as a lavish home for the Spanish viceroy (like the king's ambassador) but wasn't finished before the Mexicans called for independence from Spain. After Mexico got a constitution, they put the castle to work as a military academy. The castle achieved infamy during the war of North American Invasion (oh, you haven't heard of that war? we call it the "Mexican-American War"...) where the cadets at this academy died, wrapped in the Mexican flag, at the hands of the U.S. generals.
I know, I had no idea we actually invaded Mexico and murdered teenagers in the name of war, either, until I moved here. That was the last battle of the war, so that's good.

Today the castle/ cadet academy is a historical museum. Most of the museum is full of really interesting Mexican history that you are probably not interested in hearing. :)

But, there was one exhibit that I thought succinctly showcased a crucial piece of Mexican history.

In 1861, the first Mexican President of Native Mexican heritage was elected: Benito Juarez. He was a very liberal president at his time, and refused to pay debts to rich countries in order to have enough money to pay for education (and other important reforms). The U.S. - likely feeling guilty after the Mexican-American war - and Britain basically ignored the fact that Mexico owed them money. But France demanded payment and when they didn't receive it they sent their own emperor to rule Mexico and oust their liberal president. From 1864-1867 Maximillian of Hapsburg was the emperor of Mexico. This is the carriage he rode into Mexico City to assume his throne:

He had this carriage sent over from France to Mexico on a boat with him, and then he rode it from Veracruz to Mexico City.

Maximillian actually supported many of the liberal reforms that Benito Juarez had promoted, but he also sent money to France for 3 years until the Mexicans revolted and executed him. They reinstated Benito Juarez, who rode to his 2nd inauguration in this carriage:

This carriage would have been made in Mexico City by local artisans.

Today, Juarez is on currency, has his own federal holiday, and is one of the few presidents most Mexicans can name when asked. Maximillian, on the other hand... is best forgotten.