BELGIUM-ROOTS ProjectThe Belgian Emigrants Found a New Life in ...MexicoOutline related to Belgian immigrants |
Belgian-Mexican legion (1864-1867)
- A legion of about 2000 volunteers was formed in Belgium to help Emperor Maximilian of Habsbourg in his attempt to become Emperor of Mexico. His wife was Empress Charlotte was a daughter of Leopold I, King of Belgium.
- The legion was mainly composed of soldires with Belgian nationality, but also 79 Germans, 64 French, 27 Luxembourgians, etc ...
- Training of the Legion in the region of Oudenaarde (East-Flanders) At that moment the legion was composed of 2111 persons, included 15 women.
- 4 ship voyages in 1864/1865 to transport about 1600 men of the Legion from St Nazaire (France) to Vera Cruz (Mexico) in 1864/1865
- From them only 754 survived end 1866.
- 176 Belgians did remain in Mexico after their unit was disbanded (06/12/1866) and integrated in the National Mexican Army. They probably do have descendants. No known info about them at this moment. If you have something, please let us know.
- More general info about this topic, related to Belgium, at the following group: ABL_History. Post your general queries about this topic on that list.
Related links
- Belgisch Vrijwilligerskorps in Mexico 1864-1867 (Dutch)
- Message threads of the Yahoo group
- Chronology
- Message threads about the Legions (Austrian & Belgian)
- Alfred Van der Smissen, Commanding Officer
- Message threads about Van der Smissen
- King Leopold II and his sister, Empress Charlotte
- The Austrian Volunteer Corps
- Bibliography
- The Mexican Adventure 1861-67 (Osprey's Men-At-Arms-Series) by Chartrand R. e.a.
- Info about the Austrian State Archives
- See the "5th Group: Old Campaign Files"
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