Niños Héroes facts for kids

Image based on the medal given to the cadets

Monument to the Niños Héroes in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City.

The Niños Héroes (which means Boy Heroes or Heroic Cadets) were six brave young Mexican military cadets. They died defending Mexico City during a big battle called the Battle of Chapultepec. This battle happened on September 13, 1847, and was one of the last major fights in the Mexican–American War. Today, September 13 is a special holiday in Mexico to remember their courage and sacrifice.

The Battle of Chapultepec

Chapultepec Castle was built a long time ago. It later became the Military Academy, where young officers trained for the Mexican Army. During the U.S. invasion, Mexican troops and cadets defended the castle. General Nicolás Bravo was in charge, and he needed many soldiers to protect this important place.

However, there weren't enough men to defend the castle well. The Mexican defenders were greatly outnumbered by General Winfield Scott's troops. They fought for about two hours. General Bravo then ordered a retreat, but the six young cadets refused to leave. They kept fighting until they died.

A famous story says that the last cadet, Juan Escutia, wrapped himself in the Mexican flag. He then jumped from Chapultepec Castle. He did this to stop the flag from being captured by the enemy.

The Brave Cadets

Monument to the Niños Héroes in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

• Juan de la Barrera was born in 1828 in Mexico City. He joined the Academy when he was 12. During the battle, he was a lieutenant in the military engineers. He died defending a gun battery near the park entrance. At 19, he was the oldest of the six heroes.

• Juan Escutia was born between 1828 and 1832 in Tepic, Nayarit. He joined the Academy just five days before the battle. He is often shown as a second lieutenant. He is the cadet famous for wrapping himself in the Mexican flag and jumping from the castle roof.

• Francisco Márquez [es] was born in 1834 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He joined the Academy in January 1847. At 13 years old, he was the youngest of the six heroes. His body was found on the east side of the hill, near Juan Escutia.

• Agustín Melgar was born between 1828 and 1832 in Chihuahua. He joined the Academy in November 1846. He tried to stop the enemy alone on the north side of the castle. He was badly wounded and died two days after the battle. A statue honoring him was built in Chihuahua in 2012.

• Fernando Montes de Oca was born between 1828 and 1832 in Azcapotzalco, near Mexico City. He joined the Academy in January 1847. He was one of the cadets who stayed in the castle to fight. His record says he "Died for his country on 13 September 1847."

• Vicente Suárez was born in 1833 in Puebla. He joined the Academy in October 1845. He was killed while defending his sentry post. He shot one attacker and stabbed another before he was killed in hand-to-hand combat. He was very brave, even though he was young.

There were also 40 cadets who survived the attack and were taken prisoner. Some of them later became important figures. For example, Miguel Miramón became a general in the Mexican army.

Remembering the Heroes

The story of the Niños Héroes is a very important part of Mexican history. It shows the bravery of these young cadets who defended Mexico's honor.

Monuments to these boy heroes were built later. In 1881, a monument called the Obelisco a los Niños Héroes was put up at the foot of Chapultepec Hill. It listed the names of the fallen and captured cadets. This was the main monument for many years.

In 1947, U.S. President Harry S. Truman visited this monument. He placed a wreath there to show respect. When asked why, Truman said, "Brave men don't belong to any one country. I respect bravery wherever I see it."

Later, people wanted to find the remains of the cadets to give them a special burial site. After President Truman's visit, a search began. Six bodies were found and identified as the six cadets. These remains were placed in special urns.

On September 27, 1952, a grand monument called the Monumento a los Niños Héroes was opened. It is made of white marble and stands at the entrance to Chapultepec Park. This impressive monument honors the six cadets.

Inside Chapultepec Castle, a large mural by Gabriel Flores shows Juan Escutia's famous leap with the Mexican flag.

The Niños Héroes have also been honored in other ways. They appeared on a 5000-peso banknote in 1987. Their names are also used for many streets, squares, and schools across Mexico. There is even a metro station in Mexico City and another in Monterrey named after them.

Images for kids

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  Juan de la Barrera

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  Cadet Juan Escutia

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  Cadet Francisco Márquez

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  Obelisk commemorating the cadets and military school personnel who participated in the Battle of Chapultepec.

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  Painting on a ceiling of the Castillo de Chapultepec by Gabriel Flores depicting Juan Escutia [es] leaping from the castle walls to his death, wrapped in the Mexican flag in order to prevent the flag from falling into U.S. hands.

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  Plate and place where the remains of six Mexican soldiers were found in Chapultepec, 1947.

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  Metro Niños Héroes

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  Portrayal in México a través de los siglos

See also

In Spanish: Niños Héroes para niños

• Battle of Chapultepec
• Chapultepec Castle
• Mexican–American War
• Monumento a los Niños Héroes
• Obelisco a los Niños Héroes