Mexican Republican victory 1st brigade of infantry Regiment of Quiroga[1]: 297 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 The siege of Mexico City was an 1867 military engagement in the Second French intervention in Mexico between Republican forces, aided by the United States, and Emperor Maximilian's troops, aided by the French Empire and Austria-Hungary, encompassing in the siege of the city.

The French decided to withdraw the last of their corps on 5 February 1867[8] a week after the Emperor Maximilian also left Mexico City for Querétaro accompanied by his Imperial guards.

[1]: 295–300  On 12 May[9]: 284  all the foreign commanders agreed that they needed to prepare a secondary plan in case General Márquez' actions endangered their own men.

[11] On 20 April Agnes Salm-Salm, a Prussian princess in Imperial service, appeared at Díaz's camp and offered the disbandment of the European troops in exchange for the guarantee of their and Maximilian's lives and free passage back to Europe.

Although her offer was not accepted she tried to further convince Díaz by sending word that the Austro-Hungarian troops were put on hold and under the temporary protection of the neutral Prussian flag as of 26th inst.

[5] On 23 May, Porfirio Díaz tightened the ring around the city and advanced to Tacubaya and was confronted by the French guerrillas at Belén on 30 May[9]: 243, 269  who held them back until 9 June when they were called to reassemble at San Antonio Abad.

In fear that this would have led to greater conflict between the garrison and the civilians and to prevent the gates being opened and city delivered to the Republicans, the Austro-Hungarian cavalry raided the crowd and dispersed it.

[1]: 318–319 On 14 June, General of artillery Ramírez Arellano arrived to the region and after having himself disguised as a charcoal-burner, infiltrated into the city and gave reports about the current situation of the Empire.

[1]: 321 On the 18th the French and Austrian commanders met where the latter informed the guerillas that the Emperor was taken prisoner and that they proclaimed their neutrality for the rest of the battle and were already in negotiations with the Republicans.

[1]: 326 [15]: 348 As the funds were running low General Márquez engrossed $150,000 from the Barron, Forbes & Co. and impounded $60,000 more on the Nacional Monte de Piedad.

[14] No supplies could reach the city after it had been surrounded and as a result food stores ran empty and the forced levies just worsened the situation.

A dismounted cavalry company intervened and assaulted the Republican ramparts, only to open the road for Colonel Kodolitsch to search for provisions in the nearby territory.

[1]: 312 The second breakout commenced on Sunday at 2 o'clock in the morning of 9 June after preparing a plan to occupy the Santa Fe fort in order to secure the route into the city.

[1]: 320 [9]: 273–275 The third and last breakout was led by Márquez himself, which was an undercover attempt to escape the capital and leave it to its fate as he received worrisome information regarding the fall of Querétaro and the capture of Maximilian.

Díaz escorted by drummers and buglers responded with the same signal, that unfortunately revealed his position to the Imperialist shooters who instantly opened fire on him.

Avoiding a possible trick they asked the Prussian Baronto to find out the truth behind the courrier by indirectly requesting the Emperor to send a hand-written signed letter to clarify his will on the continuation of military matters.

[1]: 313–314  After local merchants confirmed the arrest of the Emperor, Colonel Kodolitsch declared and insisted that the foreign troops would continue to defend the city no matter what.

They insisted though to all their military honours, their neutrality, and protection, required to be escorted on the retreat of their troops to Vera Cruz, and assurance of their maintenance until their embarquement at the said port.

[1]: 326 On 17 June General Ramón Tabera Commanding-General of the Second Army Corps began to make contact with Díaz, though returned without accomplishing anything.

[9]: 384  Marcus Otterbourg, the United States Consul General tried to deliver a truce proposition that the city would surrender in exchange for the prohibition of death sentences upon the garrison.

[3]: 239  At the moment the Hungarian cavalry found shelter in the National Palace,[15]: 348  when Díaz personally sent for Major Csizmadia and granted him a meeting.

[18]: 591 Feeling that the end was near, Leonardo Márquez escaped from the capital, went into exile and passed the leadership to Ramón Tabera on 20 June, who immediately negotiated a surrender, which Díaz accepted and entered the city the following day.

After taking measures for the maintaining the order and supplying food to the inhabitants Díaz sent out for the Imperialist officers, as well as ministers, councilors, administrators of the previous regime to present themselves voluntarily within a twenty-four-hour period.

[7]: 295 [15]: 346–348 [17]: 229–230  Juan José Baz, newly appointed Chief of the Police of the Capital of the Mexican Republic proclaimed on 21 June: Finally President Juárez ceremonially visited the city on 21 July and issued a general amnesty.