The Last Emperor of Mexico

June 19, 1867 - On this day the last emperor of Mexico was executed by a firing squad. His name was Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph and his last words were:

Mexicanos! I die in a just cause... the independence and liberty of Mexico. May my blood be the last to flow for the good of this land. Viva Mexico!

Maximilian's rise to power was the ill-conceived brainchild of Napoleon III who sought to extend French imperial power. From day one, Maximilian started to piss everybody off. He held up popular land reforms and encouraged southern confederates to migrate into Mexico. Quickly Mexico spiraled into bankruptcy and the French government withdrew its support in March 1867.

Within two months Maximilian was overthrown and executed.