Siege of Huajuapan de León facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Huajuapan de León
Part of the Mexican War of Independence
The main square in Huajuapan's Independence Park.
Date 5 April – 23 July 1812 Location Huajuapan de León, Oaxaca, Mexico Result Mexican rebel victory
Belligerents
Mexican Rebels	Spanish Empire
Commanders and leaders
José María Morelos Valerio Trujano Miguel Bravo	José María de Régules Villasante Bemardino Bonavia
Strength
Thousands	1,500
Casualties and losses
Unknown	400 dead

The Siege of Huajuapan de León was a very important battle during the Mexican War of Independence. It happened in Huajuapan de León, a town in Oaxaca, Mexico. The battle took place from April 5 to July 23, 1812.

This fight was between the royalist forces, who were loyal to the Spanish king, and the Mexican rebels. The rebels were fighting for Mexico's freedom from the Spanish Empire. This siege lasted for 111 days, making it the longest siege of the entire war. In the end, the Mexican rebels won.

Colonel Valerio Trujano led the local rebels who defended the town. This siege is seen as one of the most important battles in the middle part of the Mexican War for Independence.

Why the Siege Happened

In early March 1812, rebel forces led by Valerio Trujano and Miguel Bravo joined up with Father Mendoza's group. They met in Tamazulapan, Oaxaca. Their plan was to defeat the royalist General José María de Régules Villasante, who had set up defenses in Yanhuitlán.

When the rebels first attacked, General Régules Villasante decided to only defend the town square and nearby buildings. The rebel attackers thought they were winning at first. But they met strong Spanish resistance in the city center and had to retreat.

After this, Miguel Bravo marched with his soldiers to Cuautla. He went to help General José María Morelos y Pavón, who was being surrounded by royalist forces there. Trujano, on the other hand, took his troops to Huajuapan. He made the city stronger and helped his soldiers recover from the fight at Yanhuitlán.

The Siege Begins

A royalist commander named Bemardino Bonavia started the siege against Huajuapan. He wanted to bring the town back under Spanish control. Soon, more royalist troops joined him. These troops were led by José María de Régules Villasante. The siege officially began on April 5, 1812.

The Spanish forces had about 1,500 soldiers and 14 cannons. Five days after arriving, the royalist troops began firing on the city. They used all their powerful weapons against the rebel defenses. Valerio Trujano did not have any cannons to fight back. So, the rebels made new cannons from the town's church bells.

The royalists attacked the town almost all the time. However, the rebel defenders kept pushing them back.

A Message for Help

On May 17, a brave messenger named José Remigio Sarabia managed to get through the Spanish blockade. He was an Indigenous man from Santiago Nuyoo. He reached General José María Morelos, who was in Chilapa at the time.

Sarabia told General Morelos that the Spanish were surrounding Huajuapan. Morelos decided to help Trujano. He ordered Miguel Bravo's forces to march to Huajuapan de León to break the siege. Morelos himself would follow shortly after.

On July 23, the rebel forces finally broke the siege. This happened around four o'clock in the afternoon.

Breaking the Siege

The Mexican army that came to help had thousands of men. Important leaders like Vicente Guerrero, the Galeana brothers, and the Bravo brothers were part of this army. General Morelos divided his troops into four groups. These groups attacked from four different sides.

Their attacks were successful in breaking the Spanish siege positions. The Spanish royalists decided to leave the battle. They left behind 30 cannons, over 1,000 muskets (guns), horses, and many supplies. More than 400 Spanish soldiers were killed.

Celebrating Freedom in Huajuapan

After freeing the city, General Morelos, who was a very religious Catholic, ordered a special public holiday. This holiday honored the Señor de los Corazones (Lord of the Hearts). It was to thank him for helping the rebels during the siege.

A special prayer period, called a novena, ended exactly on July 23. This was the same day the siege was broken. Since then, Huajuapan celebrates a public holiday on this day to remember the victory.

From July 14 to July 24, the novena is celebrated with daily masses and parades. These parades go through different parts of the city to the main cathedral. The image of the Señor de los Corazones is kept there. A group called the brotherhood of the Señor de los Corazones organizes many of these events.

After the religious events, there are many cultural, artistic, and fun activities in the town. There is also a fireworks show. On the night of July 23, the town's bishop and many priests hold a mass. They give thanks for the brave defense of the city. On July 24, the city streets are decorated with chalk drawings. This adds to the biggest parade, which includes religious songs, mariachi music, and flowers. The parade follows the main streets of the city.

See also

• Mexican War of Independence

In Spanish: Sitio de Huajuapan para niños