José María Morelos
1
José María Morelos
José María Morelos
A painting of José María Morelos
Born
September 1, 1765
City of Valladolid (now Morelia, Michoacán)
Died
December 22, 1815 (aged 50)
San Cristóbal Ecatepec, State of México
Years of service 1810-1815
Rank
Captain general
Battles/wars
•
Mexican War of Independence
Siege of Cuautla
Battle of Escamela
José María Teclo Morelos y Pavón (September 30, 1765, City of Valladolid, now Morelia, Michoacán – December
22, 1815,[1] San Cristóbal Ecatepec, State of México) was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel
leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811. He was later captured by the Spanish colonial authorities and executed for treason in
1815.
Early life
Morelos was born in Valladolid, since renamed "Morelia" in his honor, to a humble family of African, indigenous,
and Spanish descent.[2] His father was José Manuel Morelos y Robles, a carpenter originally from Zindurio, a
predominantly indigenous village a few kilometers west of Valladolid. His mother was Juana María Guadalupe
Pérez Pavón, originally from San Juan Bautista de Apaseo, also near Valladolid. Valladolid was the seat of a bishop
and of the government of the colonial Intendency of Valladolid. It was known as the "Garden of the Viceroyalty of
New Spain" because of its prosperity.
Through his paternal line, Morelos was related to his fellow comrade Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla.[3] Both insurgents
shared a common ancestor, Diego Ruiz de Cortés, who was a descendant of the conquistador Hernán Cortés.[3]
Hidalgo was the descendant of Ruiz de Cortés through his mother, Ana María Gallaga.[3]
José María Morelos
2
Insurrection against Spain
On September 15, 1810, Hidalgo y Costilla, the former
leader of the College of San Nicolás, then the parish
priest of Dolores, Guanajuato (since renamed Dolores
Hidalgo in his honor), called for armed revolt after the
Spanish colonial authorities discovered the Conspiracy
of Querétaro. The other conspirators included Josefa
Ortiz de Domínguez, Ignacio Allende and Juan
Aldama. Hidalgo y Costilla and his followers rose in
open revolt the following day.
José María Morelos
After taking all the important cities of the Bajío region and being
proclaimed captain general of Mexico in Celaya on September 21, Hidalgo
y Costilla advanced as far as Guanajuato.
There on September 28, the rebels captured the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in
battle, killing more than 700 Spaniards who had taken shelter there. Among
the dead was the intendent of Guanajuato, Juan Antonio Riaño, an old
friend of Hidalgo y Costilla.
Execution by firing squad in Matamoros
1815.
The Mexican revolutionary army was excommunicated by the bishop of
Michoacán, Manuel Abad y Queipo, another former friend of Hidalgo y
Costilla. Hidalgo y Costilla and his army marched on to Valladolid, where
the locals feared that the slaughter of Guanajuato would be repeated,
prompting many people to abandon the region, particularly the rich and
middle class society. However, Valladolid was taken peacefully on October
17, 1810.
In Tacámbaro Hidalgo y Costilla was proclaimed general, and Allende captain general. Hidalgo y Costilla ordered a
rest for his troops in Indaparapeo, where a few minutes before their departure, Morelos, who had read about his
excommunication and his triumphs, found him. Still serving as the parish priest of Cuarácuaro, Hidalgo y Costilla
asked Morelos to join the army. Morelos was promoted as colonel of the revolution army, ordering him to raise
troops in the south and capture Acapulco, to disrupt the commerce and trade with the Philippine Islands.
José María Morelos
3
His campaigns
Morelos soon showed himself to be a talented
strategist, and became one of the greatest revolutionary
military commanders of the war. In his first nine
months, he won 22 victories, annihilating the armies of
three Spanish royalist leaders and dominating almost
all of what is now the state of Guerrero. In December,
he captured Acapulco for the first time, except for the
fortress of San Diego. Spanish reinforcements forced
him to raise the siege in January. By quick marches, he
was able to capture most of the Spanish possessions on
the Pacific coast of what are now Michoacán and
Guerrero. On May 24, 1811 he occupied Chilpancingo
and on May 26 he took Tixtla.
Monument of Morelos in Los Angeles.
In his second campaign, Morelos divided his army into
three groups. The most important engagement of this
campaign was at Cuautla. On Christmas Eve 1811 the
townspeople welcomed Morelos to the town. The next
year his forces were besieged by the Spanish army
under general Félix María Calleja del Rey. On May 2,
1812, after 58 days, Morelos broke through the siege,
and started his third campaign.
Major victories on this third campaign were at Citlala
on June 8, 1812, Tehuacán on August 10, 1812,
Orizaba, Oaxaca and Acapulco. Morelos arrived at
A map of the military campaigns of Morelos.
Orizaba with 10,000 soldiers on October 28, 1812. The
city was defended by 600 Spanish soldiers. Negotiation
led to a surrender without bloodshed. He entered Oaxaca in triumph on November 25, 1812. Acapulco fell on April
12, 1813, forcing the Spanish army to take refuge in Fort Baltimore after.
José María Morelos
4
The Congress of Chilpancingo
In 1813, Morelos called the National Constituent Congress of
Chilpancingo, composed of representatives of the provinces under his
control, to consider a political and social program which he outlined in
a document entitled "Sentimientos de la Nación" (Sentiments of the
Nation). The Congress called itself the Congress of Anáhuac, referring
poetically to the ancient Aztecs.
The degradation of Morelos, in a contemporary
engraving.
Signature of Morelos
On September 13, 1813, the Congress, with Morelos present, endorsed
the "Sentiments of the Nation". This document declared Mexican
independence from Spain, established the Roman Catholic religion and
created the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
It declared respect for property and confiscated the productions of the
Spanish colonial government. It abolished slavery and racial social
distinctions in favor of the title "American" for all native-born
individuals. Torture, monopolies and the system of tributes were also
abolished Morelos was offered the title "Generalissimo" with the style
of address "Your Highness", but he refused these and asked to be
called "Siervo de la Nación" (Servant of the Nation). On November 6,
1813 the Congress declared independence.
After several military defeats, the Congress organized a meeting in
Apatzingán, and on October 22 promulgated the "Decreto
Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana" (1814
Constitution of Mexico Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of
Mexican America). This established a weak executive and a powerful
legislature, the opposite of what Morelos had called for. He
nevertheless conceded that it was the best he could hope for under the
circumstances.
Capture and execution
Shortly thereafter, Morelos began his fourth military campaign, a series of disasters beginning at Valladolid in late
1813. While escorting the new insurgent Congress in November 1815, he was defeated in Tezmalaca. He was taken
prisoner and brought to Mexico City in chains. He was tried and executed for treason. José María Morelos y Pavón
was executed by firing squad on December 22, 1815 in San Cristóbal Ecatepec, north of Mexico City in order that
his execution not provoke a dangerous public reaction . He was later judged to be reconciled to the church, lifting his
excommunication, as he was seen praying on his way to his execution (Marron, cited below). After his death, his
lieutenant, Vicente Guerrero, continued the war of independence.
José María Morelos
5
Legacy
Morelos is considered a national hero of Mexico. In his honor, the state
of Morelos and city of Morelia are named after him. Morelos' legacy
has been portrayed on the 50 peso note since 1997; 1 peso coins during
the 1940s, 1970s and 1980s. The Estadio Morelos in Morelia, Puerto
Morelos in the state of Quintana Roo, the Morelos Station in Mexico's
City Metro System, Ecatepec the city in Mexico State where he was
executed and the Morelos Satellite from the Communications company
Satmex are also named after him.
References
[1] Dates and other biographical information in this article are drawn from Appleton's
Cyclopedia of American Biography 1887-89.
[2] "Sitio del Bicentenario de independencia de Mexico, biografia de Morelos." (http:/ /
www. bicentenario. gob. mx/ index. php?option=com_content& view=article&
id=72). . Retrieved 15 June 2012.
[3] Castro, Jesús. "Con sangre sacerdotal heredó Hidalgo la sotana" (http:/ / www.
vanguardia. com. mx/ consangresacerdotalheredohidalgolasotana-552032. html).
vanguardia.com.mx. . Retrieved 15 June 2012.
A statue of Morelos at Janitzio, Michoacán.
Gustavo Watson Marron, director of the historical archive of the archdiocese, cited in El Universal, 31 August 2009
Further reading
• Wilbert H. Timmons, "Morelos: Priest, Soldier, Statesman of Mexico", revised edition, 1970
External links
• Wallace L. McKeehan, "José María Morelos Man of God, Warrior & Patriot" (http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/
dewitt/morelos1.htm)
• "Mexico Builds Her Own Statue Of Liberty" (http://books.google.com/books?id=yCUDAAAAMBAJ&
pg=PA17&dq=Popular+Science+1932+plane&hl=en&ei=TuNMTY-iNYOC8gb7jv3oDg&sa=X&
oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjge#v=onepage&q&f=true) Popular Science
Monthly, February 1936
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors
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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Morelos por autor anónimo.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Morelos_por_autor_anónimo.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anónimo, del siglo XIX
File:José María Morelos.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:José_María_Morelos.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: Desconocido
File:Fusilamiento Matamoros.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Fusilamiento_Matamoros.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: (unknown)
File:Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon Statute, Lincoln Park, Los Angeles.JPG Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Jose_Maria_Morelos_y_Pavon_Statute,_Lincoln_Park,_Los_Angeles.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: File:Campaña de Morelos.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Campaña_de_Morelos.png License: Public Domain Contributors: Yavidaxiu
File:Degradación Morelos.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Degradación_Morelos.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: (unknown)
File:Morelos signature.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Morelos_signature.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: BorisGelbukh
File:Janitziobig.jpeg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Janitziobig.jpeg License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Dmetzger, 1 anonymous edits
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