Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don
Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos
Protomartyr of Mexican Independence
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Regidor in the Cabildo of Mexico City | |
| In office 1808 – September 15, 1808 |
|
| Monarch | Charles IV Ferdinand VII |
| Viceroy: José de Iturrigaray | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 9, 1760 Ciénega del Rincón, New Spain |
| Died | October 4, 1808 (aged 48) Mexico City, New Spain |
| Political party | Criollo Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Mexican independence |
| Alma mater | College of San Ildefonso |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos (born June 9, 1760, in Ciénega del Rincón, New Spain; died October 4, 1808, in Mexico City, New Spain) was an important lawyer and politician in New Spain. New Spain was the name for Mexico when it was a colony of Spain. He strongly believed that Mexico should become independent from Spain. Because of his ideas, Spanish leaders put him in prison, where he later died. He is remembered as one of the first heroes, or protomartyrs, who died for Mexican independence.
Contents
Who Was Francisco Primo de Verdad?
Early Life and Learning
Francisco Primo de Verdad was born on June 9, 1760. His birthplace was a large farm called a hacienda in a place now known as Ojuelos de Jalisco. He went to school at the College of San Ildefonso in Mexico City. There, he studied to become a lawyer.
He was very interested in the ideas behind the American and French Revolutions. He also studied the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, a famous thinker. His friend, Juan Francisco Azcárate y Ledesma, said that Primo de Verdad was a "true scholar." This means he was a very smart and knowledgeable person.
A Voice for New Spain
In 1808, Primo de Verdad became a member of the cabildo (city council) in Mexico City. This council helped govern the city. He was a criollo, which meant he was born in America but had Spanish parents. Many criollos wanted more freedom or even independence from Spain. Primo de Verdad was a leading voice for the criollos in the government. Some people think he might have been part of secret groups working for independence, but we don't know for sure.
Changes in Spain
Big changes were happening in Spain that affected New Spain. In March 1808, King Charles IV of Spain was forced to give up his throne. His son, Ferdinand VII, became king. But then, Napoleon, the leader of France, took over Spain. He forced both Charles IV and Ferdinand VII to give up their crowns. Napoleon then made his own brother, Joseph Bonaparte, the new king of Spain.
A Plan for Mexico
News of these changes reached Mexico in July 1808. This made the criollos think it was their chance to gain more control. An old Spanish law said that if there was no king, power would go back to the people. Primo de Verdad and another council member, Azcárate y Ledesma, suggested a plan. They wanted to create a temporary government, called a junta, for New Spain. They wanted the Viceroy, José de Iturrigaray, to lead it. Their reason was that Spain was now controlled by a foreign army, and the Spanish royal family was held captive.
The Viceroy and the city council agreed to this plan. However, the Audiencia, which was another powerful group, did not agree. The city council had many liberal criollos, but the Audiencia was mostly made up of conservative peninsulares. Peninsulares were wealthy people born in Spain.
On August 9, 1808, Primo de Verdad spoke about his idea that power should come from the people. Some members of the Audiencia said his idea was dangerous and rebellious. They believed it went against the king and the church. The leaders decided that New Spain would only recognize the King of Spain, Ferdinand VII.
Later, more news arrived from Spain, showing that there was no clear government there. This made the criollos even more determined.
His Final Days
On September 15, 1808, a group of Spaniards who were against independence, led by a rich businessman named Gabriel J. de Yermo, took action. They carried out a coup, which means they illegally took power. Viceroy Iturrigaray was removed from his position. Primo de Verdad, Melchor de Talamantes (another criollo leader), and other criollos were arrested.
Primo de Verdad was put in the archbishop's prison. He died there on October 4, 1808. The exact cause of his death was not proven, but some people suspected he was poisoned. Today, Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos is honored in Mexico as one of the first heroes who died fighting for the country's independence.
See also
Template:Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Francisco Primo de Verdad y Ramos para niños
Images for kids
-
Sculpture in Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City.
