''Declaration to the world, or notes for history'' () is a document written by

Agustín de Iturbide Agustín de Iturbide (; 27 September 178319 July 1824), full name Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu and also known as Agustín of Mexico, was a Mexican army general and politician. During the Mexican War of Independence, he built a ...

(1793-1824) after he had been deposed in March 1823 as

emperor of Mexico The Emperor of Mexico ( Spanish: ''Emperador de México'') was the head of state and ruler of Mexico on two non-consecutive occasions in the 19th century. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico b ...

, and made public on October 13, 1824 after his death. This document reflected his views of himself and of his duties in the politics of his country. It was found by chance between his shirt and girdle after his execution for treason on July 19, 1824 in

Nuevo Santander Nuevo Santander (New Santander) was a region of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, covering the modern Mexican state of Tamaulipas and extending into modern-day southern Texas in the United States. A history of Texas, commissioned by the U.S. governme ...

, now in

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

state. The stains on the document are the blood of Iturbide. He said: About his vision:

The context

Five days before his shooting, the former emperor arrived at the port of

Soto la Marina, Tamaulipas Soto la Marina is a town in Soto la Marina Municipality located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast ...

coming from Europe after an exile of more than a year. He ignored the publication of a decree calling for his immediate execution if he stepped on Mexican soil. He planned to offer his services to the Mexican authorities to face a possible Spanish invasion. One year after restoration of absolute monarchy in Spain, king

Fernando VII , house = Bourbon-Anjou , father = Charles IV of Spain , mother = Maria Luisa of Parma , birth_date = 14 October 1784 , birth_place = El Escorial, Spain , death_date = , death_place = Madrid, Spain , burial_pla ...

had plans to reconquer Mexico using forces under the command of Félix Calleja. Iturbide, his pregnant wife Ana María Huarte and his two younger children, a nephew and the Polish lieutenant Beneski arrived on board the English ship ''Spring'' on July 14, 1824. Felipe de la Garza, regional commander, arrested Iturbide and informed him that, in accordance with a decree of Congress, he would be immediately executed by firing squad. Iturbide asked to be moved to Padilla, in order to negotiate with the legislators of the Congress of Tamaulipas. However, they refused to listen him and imprisoned him. While he awaited his shooting, Iturbide drafted some letters. He wrote a farewell to his wife and children, and to the legislators seeking to know what he was accused of. On July 19 at 15:00 the sentence of death, approved by the majority, was read out. Iturbide was conveyed to the main square of Padilla. Before execution he spoke to the people gathered in the main square and called on them to remain united as Mexicans, love their country, follow the Catholic precepts and obey the directions of the authorities.Reyes, Juan Pablo
''Agustín de Iturbide fue fusilado por decreto.''
''Excélsior'', 19 July 2014. He strongly denied that he was a traitor. Iturbide was buried in the local church by the people of Padilla. In 1838, president

Anastasio Bustamante Anastasio Bustamante y Oseguera (; 27 July 1780 – 6 February 1853) was a Mexican physician, general, and politician who served as president of Mexico three times. He participated in the Mexican War of Independence initially as a royalist befo ...

ordered his remains to be moved to the altar of San Felipe de Jesús in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the City of Mexico.

References

{{Authority control 1823 documents Mexican documents Mexican emperors Tamaulipas 1820s in Mexico