José María Morelos y Pavón Biography
Jose Maria Morelos (September 30, 1765 – December 22, 1815) was a Mexican priest and revolutionary.
He had the general military command of the Mexican independence movement in 1811-1815 before being captured, tried and executed by the Spanish.
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He is considered one of Mexico’s greatest heroes and countless things bear his name, including the State of Morelos and the city of Morelia.
Early years of José María Morelos
José María was born into a lower-class family (his father was a carpenter) in the city of Valladolid in 1765.
He worked as a farmer, a muleteer and a day laborer until he entered the seminary. The director of his school was none other than Miguel Hidalgowho must have left an impression on the young Morelos.
He was ordained a priest in 1797 and served in the cities of Churumuco and Carácuaro. His career as a priest was solid and he enjoyed the favor of his superiors: unlike Hidalgo, he showed no propensity for «dangerous thoughts» before the revolution of 1810.
He assumed the leadership of the independence movement after the death in 1811 of the priest Hidalgo.
Morelos and Hidalgo
On September 16, 1810, Hidalgo issued the famous «Pain scream«, initiating Mexico’s fight for independence.
Hidalgo soon joined others, including the former royal official Ignacio Allende and they raised an army of deliverance.
Morelos addressed the rebel army and met Hidalgo, who made him a lieutenant and ordered him to raise an army in the south and march on Acapulco. After the meeting, they went their separate ways.
Hidalgo would approach Mexico City but was ultimately defeated at the Bridge of the Battle of Calderón, captured shortly thereafter and executed for treason. Morelos, however, was just beginning.
Morelos takes the arms
Always the priest himself, Morelos coolly informed his superiors that he would join the rebellion so that he could appoint a replacement.
He began to round up the men and march west. Unlike Hidalgo, Morelos preferred a small, well-armed, and well-disciplined army that could move quickly and attack without warning.
Often, he turned away recruits working in the fields, telling them instead to raise food to feed the army for days to come.
In November he had an army of 2,000 men and on November 12 he occupied the medium-sized city of Aguacatillo, near Acapulco.
Morelos in 1811 – 1812
Morelos was shocked to learn of Hidalgo y Allende’s capture in early 1811. However, he fought on, laying an abortive siege on Acapulco before taking Oaxaca City in December 1812.
Meanwhile, politics had entered the fight for Mexican independence in the form of a congress chaired by Ignacio López Rayón, once a member of Hidalgo’s inner circle.
Morelos was often in the field, but he always had representatives at congressional meetings, where they lobbied on his behalf for formal independence, equal rights for all Mexicans, and the continued privilege of the Catholic Church in Mexican affairs.
insurgents
In 1813, the Spanish had finally organized a response to the Mexican insurgents.
Felix Callejathe general who had defeated Hidalgo at the Puente de la Batalla de Calderón, was made Viceroy, and he pursued an aggressive strategy to put down the rebellion.
He divided and conquered pockets of resistance in the north before turning his attention to Morelos and the south.
Celleja moved south in force, capturing cities and executing prisoners. In December 1813, the insurgents lost a key battle at Valladolid and went on the defensive.
Death of Morelos
By early 1814, the rebels were on the run. Morelos was an inspired guerrilla commander, but he was outnumbered and outgunned by the Spanish.
The Mexican insurgent congress was constantly on the move, trying to stay one step ahead of the Spanish.
By November 1815, the Congress was on the move again, and Morelos was assigned to escort it.
The Spanish caught them at Tezmalaca and a battle ensued. Morelos bravely held off the Spanish as Congress escaped, but was captured during the fight.
He was sent to Mexico City in chains. There, he was tried, excommunicated, and executed on December 22.
Morelos beliefs
Morelos felt a real connection to his people, and they loved him for it. He fought to eliminate all class and race distinctions.
He was one of the first true Mexican nationalists: he had a vision of a free and unified Mexico, while many of his contemporaries had a closer allegiance to cities or regions.
He differed from Hidalgo in many key ways: he did not allow allies’ churches or homes to be looted, and he actively sought support among Mexico’s wealthy Creole upper class.
Always the priest, he believed that it was God’s will that Mexico be a free and sovereign nation: the revolution became almost a holy war for him.
Legacy of José María Morelos
Morelos was the right man at the right time. Hidalgo started the revolution, but his animosity toward the upper classes and his refusal to control the mob that made up his army ultimately caused more problems than they solved.
Morelos, on the other hand, was a true man of the people, charismatic and devoted. He had a more constructive vision than Hidalgo and exuded a palpable belief in a better tomorrow with equality for all Mexicans.
Morelos was an interesting mix of the best features of Hidalgo and Allende and the perfect man to carry the torch they had thrown.
Like Hidalgo, he was highly charismatic and emotional, and like Allende, he preferred a small, well-trained army over a massive horde of angry mob. He achieved several key victories and ensured that the revolution would live with or without him.
After his capture and execution, two of his lieutenants, Vicente Guerrero and Guadalupe VictoriaThey continued the fight.
Morelos is very honored today in Mexico. The state of Morelos and the city of Morelia are named after him, as is a major stadium, countless streets and parks, and even a couple of communications satellites.
His image has appeared on several banknotes and coins in the history of Mexico. His remains are buried in the Column of Independence in Mexico City along with other national heroes.
Travel to Learn History
A fun way to learn history is by visiting the places where events occurred. We give you some tips before a vacation.
Plan your vacations in advance. If possible, travel in low season like January or September If you visit the city of Hidalgo, don’t forget to eat some traditional pastries that you will surely love. Go to a travel agency to have a variety of options when planning your trip .
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