The Tragedy: Maximilian In Austrian history, Maximilian I of Mexico, who was born in 1832 and passed away in 1867, is seen as a sad person. He was the younger sibling of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and was given the opportunity to rule Mexico by a group of conservative Mexicans who opposed President Benito Juárez's liberal administration. Maximilian accepted the invitation because he thought he could bring stability and peace to Mexico. He was later put to death by firing squad after being captured by Republican forces, but his authority was never particularly popular. The tragic nature of Maximilian's tale can be attributed to a number of factors. First of all, he was a decent man who merely wanted to carry out what he believed to be right. He thought that by enacting liberal reforms and fostering economic growth, he could aid Mexico. He was unprepared for the difficulties of leading a nation that was sharply split by political and social discord. Second, circumstances ...