Texas History Tour - Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo: What's the purpose? What's the history? Why is it important?

Cinco de Mayo ultimately owns it's existence to General Ignacio Zaragoza, who was born at Presidio la Bahia while his father was stationed there. Coincidentally, Ignacio was born a little more than a month after the city of la Bahia's name was changed to Goliad, to honor a priest who ignited the fight for Mexican Independence from Spain (which was finalized September 16, 1810).

Zaragoza became a soldier too and was in charge of the military prison at Matamoros in April 1836. An interesting tidbit about Zaragoza was that he was too busy to attend his own wedding. His brother stood in during the ceremony.

While the American Civil War was in full swing, there was world trouble between other nations: France and Mexico being one. On May 5, 1862, in the Battle of Puebla, General Ignacio Zaragoza led the Mexican forces in a decisive battle against France and ensured Mexico's Independence.

The house where Zaragoza was born was burned during the Texas Revolution. This replica was built upon the original foundations.

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