Leonardo Márquez

Who was Leonardo Márquez?

Leonardo Márquez was a Mexican general. He fought against the United States in the Intervention of 1846-1848 and was a prominent supporter of Antonio López de Santa Anna in the revolutionary movement of 1849. After the fall of that dictator, Márquez espoused the cause of Miramón and Zuloaga against Benito Juárez.

In 1862, he took up the cause of the French, and rendered important service to the establishment of the power of Maximilian, by whom he was placed at the head of the regular army, and was, in 1864, given the mission to Constantinople. He returned in 1866, and a year later, when the French withdrew, he undertook to organize a native army to support the Empire.

In October 1866, Maximilian made him a division commander, and in March 1867, sent him to Mexico City to form a cabinet and raise troops for the relief of Querétaro. Marquez was a known rival of Miguel Miramón and would disagree with him constantly. Miramon had proposed an assault on the republican army while they were divided but Marquez opposed the idea, possibly only because Miramon had suggested it.