List of wars involving Mexico
This is a list of wars involving various Mexican states.
Mexico has been involved in numerous different military conflicts over the years, with most being civil/internal wars.
Pre-hispanic Mexico
Conflict | Combatant 1 | Combatant 2 | Results |
---|---|---|---|
Spanish conquest of the Maya
(1511–1697) |
Late Postclassic Maya states | ![]() |
Defeat |
Spanish conquest of Tabasco
(1518–1564) |
Chontal Maya | ![]() |
Defeat |
Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire
(1519–1530) |
![]() Allied city-states: Independent kingdoms and city-states:
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Indigenous allies:
Support or occasional alliesb: |
Spanish-Indigenous allied victory
|
Viceroyalty of New Spain
Conflict | Combatant 1 | Combatant 2 | Results |
---|---|---|---|
Spanish conquest of the Tarascan empire
(1522–1530) |
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Victory
|
Spanish conquest of Chiapas
(c. 1523 – c. 1695) |
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Zoque people
Chiapaneca people, Independent Maya, including:
|
Victory
|
Spanish conquest of Guatemala
(1524–1667) |
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Independent indigenous kingdoms and city-states, including the: | Victory
|
Spanish conquest of El Salvador
(1524–1539) |
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Indigenous peoples of El Salvador, including: | Victory |
Spanish conquest of Honduras
(1524– c. 1539) |
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Indigenous peoples of Honduras, including: | Victory |
Expedition to Chesapeake Bay
(1526) |
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Hostile Natives
African rebels Spanish mutineers |
Defeat
|
Conquest of Yucatán
(1527–1697) |
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Mayan tribes | Victory
|
Narváez expedition
(1527–1536) |
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Tocobaga
Autes |
Inconclusive
|
Yaqui Wars
(1533–1929)
|
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Stalemate |
Expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado
(1535–1554) |
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Pueblo | Stalemate
|
Grijalva expedition to the Equatorial Pacific
(1537–1542) |
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Hostile Indigenous peoples
Spanish mutineers |
Inconclusive due to the loss of the ship in New Guinea. |
New Spain Exploration of North America
(1539–1543) |
![]() Indian auxiliaries
|
Northern Utina | Defeat |
Tiguex War
(1540–1541)
|
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Tiwa Indians | Victory |
Mixtón war
(1540–1542)
|
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Caxcanes | Victory |
Chichimeca war
(1550–1590)
|
![]() Indian auxiliaries (Tlaxcalteca, Caxcan, Otomí, Mexica, Purépecha) |
Chichimeca Confederation | Defeat |
Guamares Rebellion
(1563–1569) |
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Guamares | Victory |
Spanish assault on French Florida
(1565) |
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Victory |
Spanish conquest of the Philippines
(1565–1575) |
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|
Rajahnate of Maynila | Victory
|
Spanish expeditions to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu
(1567–1606) |
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Hostile inhabitants of Polynesia | Stalemate
|
Philippine revolts against Spain
(1567–1872)
|
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|
Victory
|
Blockade of Cebu
(1568) |
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Victory |
Eighty Years' War, Thirty Years' War
(1568-1648) |
![]() Supported by: |
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Supported by: |
Defeat
|
Castilian War (1578) | ![]()
|
![]() Supported by: |
Status quo ante bellum
|
1582 Cagayan battles
(1582) |
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|
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Victory |
Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)
|
![]() co-belligerent |
![]() co-belligerent |
Indecisive, Status quo ante bellum
|
Acoma War
(1598–1599)
|
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Acoma Pueblo | Victory |
Spanish-Portuguese conflict on China (1598–1600) | ![]() |
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Defeat
|
Acaxee Rebellion
(1601–1607)
|
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Acaxee Indians | Victory |
Tepehuán Revolt
(1616–1620) |
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Tepehuánes | Victory |
Spanish conquest of Petén
(c. 1618 – c. 1697) |
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Independent Maya, including:
|
Victory
|
Sacalum Rebellion
(1624) |
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Maya rebel forces lidered by the Batab Ah Kin Pol | Victory |
Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659) | ![]()
|
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|
Defeat |
Apache Wars
(c. 1641–1924) |
![]() (until 1821) ![]() (1821–1915) ![]() (1850–1924) ![]() |
Apache | Spanish/Mexican victory |
Navajo Wars
(c. 1641–1864)
|
![]() (until 1821) ![]() (1821–1848) ![]() (1850–1866) |
Navajo | United States victory
|
Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660) | ![]() |
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Defeat |
Tehuantepec Rebellion
(1660–1661) |
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Zapotec peoples | Victory
|
Piracy attacks on Lake Nicaragua
(1665–1857) |
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West Indies Pirates | Stalemate
|
Chepo expedition
(1679–1681) |
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Defeat.
|
Pueblo Revolt
(1680)
|
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Puebloans | Defeat
|
War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1712) | ![]()
Indian Allies: co-belligerent: |
![]()
Indian Allies: co-belligerent: |
Political victory for Spain loyal to Philip
Military victory for Spain loyal to Charles
|
Comanche Wars
(1706–1875)
|
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Comanche
Other Indigenous nations |
Defeat |
Pablo Presbere's insurrection
(1709–1710)
|
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Talamanca | Victory |
Tzeltal Rebellion of 1712
(1712)
|
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Maya communities | Victory |
War of the Quadruple Alliance
(1718–1720) |
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Defeat
Savoy and Austria swap Sicily for Habsburgs and Sardinia for Savoy. |
Aguayo expedition to Texas
(1720–1722) |
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Victory
|
Pericúes Rebellion
(1734–1737) |
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Pericúes | Stalemate
|
Pima Revolt
(1751)
|
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Pima Indians | Victory |
Seven Years' War (1756–1763) | ![]()
|
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Defeat
|
Cisteil Rebellion
(1761) |
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Maya rebel forces lidered by Jacinto Canek | Victory
|
Louisiana Rebellion of 1768
(1768) |
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Victory |
American Revolutionary War
(1775–1783) |
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Victory
|
Cherokee–American wars
[2nd phase post-revolution] (1783–1795)
|
![]() Co-belligerent: |
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Spanish withdrawal due to Coalition Wars.
Defeat of Cherokees |
Nootka Crisis
(1789–1790) |
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![]() Nuu-chah-nulth people ![]() ![]() |
Defeat |
Haitian Revolution
(1791–1804) |
1791–1793
1793–1798
1798–1801 1802–1804 |
1791–1793
1793–1798 1798–1801 |
Defeat |
French Revolutionary Wars
(1792–1802) |
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|
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![]() (Quasi-War) (until 1800) |
Inconclussive |
Napoleonic Wars
(1803–1815) |
|
![]() French clients: |
Victory
|
Anglo-American war
(1812–1814) |
|
![]() Indian allies |
Inconclusive
|
Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition (1812) | ![]() |
Victory | |
Seminole Wars
(1817–18) |
Seminole
![]() |
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Defeat
|
Totonicapán Uprising of 1820
(1820) |
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Victory |
Independent Mexico
- Key
- Mexican victory
- Mexican defeat
- Ceasefire or other result
- Ongoing conflict
Conflict | Combatant 1 | Combatant 2 | Results | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) |
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Victory
|
+500,000 |
Long Expedition (1819) |
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Victory
|
~5 (1821 expedition) |
Texas–Indian Wars (1820–1875) |
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Comanche Other Indigenous nations |
Victory |
1,394 |
Spanish Attempts to Reconquer Mexico (1821–1829) |
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Victory
|
135 |
Comanche–Mexico Wars (1821–1870) |
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Comanche Kiowa Kiowa Apache |
Defeat
|
~6,000 |
Apache–Mexico Wars (1600s–1915) Part of the Mexican Indian Wars and the American Indian Wars |
![]() (1600–1821) ![]() (1821–1915) ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apache | Victory
|
|
Yaqui Wars (1533–1929) Part of the Mexican Indian Wars |
![]() (1533–1716) ![]() (1716–1821) ![]() (1821–1929) ![]() |
![]() Yaqui Allies: |
Victory
|
|
Mexican Indian Wars (1821–1933) |
![]() (1519–1716) Tlaxcalans and other Native Indian allies of Spain (1519–1821) ![]() ![]() (1821–1933) ![]() ![]() ![]()
|
Various Native Mexicans |
Victory | |
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Imperialist victory |
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Victory
El Salvador is annexed to Mexico |
||
Casa Mata Plan Revolution (1822–1823) |
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Republican Victory | |
Texas revolt (1823) |
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Provisional Government Victory | |
Rebellion of Oaxaca (1823) |
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Oaxaca | Provisional Government Victory | |
Rebellion of Guadalajara (1823) |
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Jalisco | Provisional Government Victory
|
|
Rebellion of Puebla (1823) |
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Independents | Provisional Government Victory | |
Revolt of Querétaro (1823) |
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Provisional Government Victory | |
Iturbidist uprising in Tepic (1824) |
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Provisional Government Victory | |
Fredonian Rebellion (1826–1827) |
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Victory
|
|
Conservative Coup (1829–1831) |
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Conservative Victory
|
|
Zacatecas Rebellion (1835) |
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Centralist Victory
|
|
Texas Revolution (1835–1836) |
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Defeat
| |
Rebellion in Sonora and Sinaloa (1837-1839) |
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Victory
|
|
First Franco–Mexican War (1838–1839) also known as the Pastry War |
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Defeat
|
|
Federalist Revolt (Tabasco) (1839–1840) |
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Defeat | |
Rebellion of the Republic of the Rio Grande (1840) |
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Victory
|
|
Texan Santa Fe Expedition (1841–1842) |
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Victory | |
Occupation of Soconusco | ![]() |
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Victory
|
|
Invasion of Yucatán (1842-1843) |
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Defeat | |
Mexicans Invasions of 1842 (1842) |
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Defeat
|
|
Capture of Monterey (1842) |
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Status quo ante bellum
|
|
Mier Expedition (1842–1843) |
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Victory
|
|
Texan raids on New Mexico (1843) | ![]() |
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Victory
|
|
Mexican–American War (1846–1848) |
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Defeat
|
|
Caste War of Yucatán (1847–1901) |
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Maya | Victory
|
|
Rousset's Expeditions (1853-1854) |
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Victory
|
|
Expedition of William Walker to Baja California and Sonora (1853-1854) |
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Victory
|
|
Revolution of Ayutla (1854–1855) |
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Liberal Victory
|
|
Reform War (1857–1861) |
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Liberal Victory
|
|
Cortina Troubles (1859–1861) |
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Victory
|
|
Second Franco–Mexican War (1861–1867) |
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Victory
|
|
Victorio's War (1879–1881) |
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Apache | Victory
|
|
Raid in Tuxtla Chico (1880) | ![]() |
Central American filibusters | Victory | |
Barrios' War of Reunification (1885) |
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Victory
|
|
Garza Revolution (1891–1893) |
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Garzistas | Victory
|
|
Mexican annexation of Clipperton Island (1897) |
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Victory
|
|
Second Totoposte War (1903) |
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Stalemate | |
Third Totoposte War (1906) |
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Stalemate | |
Acayucan Rebellion
(1906) |
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Government Victory |
|
Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) |
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|
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Revolutionary Victory
|
|
Border War (1910–1919) |
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Status quo ante bellum
|
|
Magonista Rebellion (1911) |
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Victory
|
|
Antichina Campaign
(1911–1934) |
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Stalemate
|
|
Delahuertista Rebellion
(1923–1924) |
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Government Victory |
|
Cristero War (1926–1929) |
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![]() National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty Knights of Columbus |
Government Ceasefire
|
|
Escobar Rebellion (1929) |
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Escobar Rebels | Government Victory
|
|
Saturnino Cedillo Rebellion
(1938) |
![]() Supported by: |
Cedillistas
|
Government Victory
|
|
World War II (1942–1945) |
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Victory
|
|
Mexico–Guatemala Conflict (1958–1959) |
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Ceasefire
|
|
Dirty War (1964–1982[11][12]) Part of the Cold War |
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|
Far-left groups[11]
|
Government victory
After the conflict
|
|
Zapatista Uprising (1994) Part of the Chiapas conflict |
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Ceasefire between Mexican Military and EZLN
|
|
Mexican Drug War (2006–present) Part of the war on drugs |
|
Principal Mexican cartels:
Support: |
Ongoing |
See also
- Mexico in World War I
- List of ongoing armed conflicts
- Timeline of Mexican War of Independence
- Mexican War of Independence
Notes
- ^ 1805, 1809, 1813–1815
- ^ a b The term Austrian Empire came into use after Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804, by which Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor took the title Emperor of Austria (Kaiser von Österreich) in response. The Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806, and consequently Emperor of Austria became Francis' primary title. For this reason, Austrian Empire is often used instead of Holy Roman Empire for brevity's sake when speaking of the Napoleonic Wars, even though the two entities are not synonymous.
- ^ Both Austria and Prussia briefly became allies of France and contributed forces to the French Invasion of Russia in 1812.
- ^ 1806–1807, 1813–1815
- ^ 1804–1807, 1812–1815
- ^ a b Russia became an ally of France following the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807. The alliance broke down in 1810, which led to the French invasion in 1812. During that time Russia waged war against Sweden (1808–1809) and the Ottoman Empire (1806–1812), and nominally against Britain (1807–1812).
- ^ 1808–1815
- ^ a b c Spain was an ally of France until a stealthy French invasion in 1808, then fought France in the Peninsular War.
- ^ 1804–1809, 1812–1815
- ^ Nominally, Sweden declared war against Great Britain after its defeat by Russia in the Finnish War (1808–1809).
- ^ 1800–1807, 1809–1815
- ^ a b c d e 1807–1812
- ^ a b The Ottoman Empire fought against Napoleon in the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria as part of the French Revolutionary Wars. During the Napoleonic era of 1803 to 1815, the Empire participated in two wars against the Allies: against Britain in the Anglo-Turkish War (1807–1809) and against Russia in the Russo-Turkish War (1806–1812). Russia was allied with Napoleon 1807–1810.
- ^ a b c 1813–1815
- ^ a b c d 1815
- ^ Hanover was in a personal union with Great Britain
- ^ 1809
- ^ The Kingdom of Hungary participated in the war with separate Hungarian regiments[6][7] in the Imperial and Royal Army, and also by a traditional army ("insurrectio").[8] The Hungarian Diet voted to join in war and agreed to pay one third of the war expenses.
- ^ 1806–1807, 1813–1814
- ^ a b Qajar dynasty fought against Russia from 1804 to 1813; the Russians were allied with Napoleon 1807–1812.
- ^ 1806–1815
- ^ Sicily remained in personal union with Naples until Naples became a French client-republic following the Battle of Campo Tenese in 1806.
- ^ 1814
- ^ From 1803 till 1806, when it became the Kingdom of Holland
- ^ 1808–1813
- ^ Sixteen of France's allies among the German states (including Bavaria and Württemberg) established the Confederation of the Rhine in July 1806 following the Battle of Austerlitz (December 1805). Following the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt (October 1806), various other German states that had previously fought alongside the anti-French allies, including Saxony and Westphalia, also allied with France and joined the Confederation. Saxony changed sides again in 1813 during the Battle of Leipzig, causing most other member-states to quickly follow suit and declare war on France.
- ^ These four states were the leading nations of the Confederation, but the Confederation was made up of a total of 43 principalities, kingdoms, and duchies.
- ^ a b Napoleon established the Duchy of Warsaw, ruled by the Kingdom of Saxony in 1807. Polish Legions had already been serving in the French armies beforehand.
- ^ The French Empire annexed the Kingdom of Etruria in 1807.
- ^ The French Empire annexed the Kingdom of Holland in 1810. Dutch troops fought against Napoleon during the Hundred Days in 1815.
- ^ Naples, briefly allied with Austria in 1814, allied with France again and fought against Austria during the Neapolitan War in 1815.
- ^ 1809–1813
- ^ Denmark–Norway remained neutral until the Battle of Copenhagen (1807). Denmark was compelled to cede Norway to Sweden by the Treaty of Kiel in 1814. Following a brief Swedish campaign against Norway, Norway entered a personal union with Sweden.
- ^ 1807–1814
- ^ 1804–1807, 1812–1813
- ^ 1803–1808
References
- ^ Teoría de la bandera.Guido Villa.1974 "The companies portentous discovery and conquest of the New World, met under the banners of Castile incarnate". Las portentosas empresas del descubrimiento y la conquista del Nuevo Mundo, se cumplieron bajo los encarnados pendones de Castilla.
- ^ "MÉXICO EN LA CONQUISTA DE FILIPINAS". exploramex.com. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ Tampico, Vladimir Meza | El Sol de. "La batalla de Cagayán, tlaxcaltecas contra piratas y ¿samuráis?". El Sol de Tampico | Noticias Locales, Policiacas, sobre México, Tamaulipas y el Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ The Acts of Union of 1707 united the crowns of England and Scotland, forming the Kingdom of Great Britain. For much of the war, Scottish units were under Dutch pay and operated as part of the army of the Dutch Republic.
- ^ From H.M.C. Brown to Peter P. Pitchlynn. Re: rumors of a band of Comanches and Apaches of hostile nature gathering. "Peter P. Pitchlynn Collection" Archived 17 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Western Histories Collection, University of Oklahoma Libraries
- ^ Arnold 1995, p. 36.
- ^ The Austrian Imperial-Royal Army (Kaiserliche-Königliche Heer) 1805–1809: The Hungarian Royal Army [1] Archived 22 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Fisher, Todd (2001). The Napoleonic Wars: The Empires Fight Back 1808–1812. Oshray Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-298-2. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ a b Leggiere 2014.
- ^ From H.M.C. Brown to Peter P. Pitchlynn. Re: rumors of a band of Comanches and Apaches of hostile nature gathering. "Peter P. Pitchlynn Collection" Archived 2021-08-17 at the Wayback Machine, Western Histories Collection, University of Oklahoma Libraries
- ^ a b Calderon, Fernando Herrera; Cedillo, Adela (2012). Challenging Authoritarianism in Mexico: Revolutionary Struggles and the Dirty War, 1964–1982. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-88904-9.
- ^ Forero, Juan (22 November 2006). "Details of Mexico's Dirty Wars From 1960s to 1980s Released". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ Boyle, Kate. "Human Rights and the Dirty War in Mexico". gwu.edu. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ "Fue Un Dos de Octubre". Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ^ "ELECCIONES-MEXICO: Fox gana la Presidencia". 2000-07-03. Archived from the original on February 1, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
- ^ "A new post combating an ever-evolving threat". Australian Federal Police (AFP). May 11, 2018.
- ^ "Security". 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Philippines arrests three linked to Mexico drug cartel: Police". 26 December 2013.
- ^ "How Mexico's guerrilla army stayed clear of organized crime". www.insightcrime.org. January 9, 2012.
- ^ "Las alianzas criminales del CJNG para expandirse en México". 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Narcoland: The Mexican Drugs Lords and their Godfathers by Anabel Hernández – review". The Guardian. 21 November 2014.
- ^ "Mexico's criminal gangs stir up political violence ahead of election season". The Conversation. 10 May 2024.
- ^ "Mexican cartels funneling shipments to Italian mafia through Texas". The Guardian. 22 April 2009.
- ^ "La relación de negocios entre la mafia italiana y los carteles de la droga de México". InSight Crime. 19 Jun 2014.
- ^ "Por qué "El Mayo" Zambada forjó alianzas con las mafias de los Balcanes". Infobae. 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Cómo opera la mafia albanesa en América Latina y hasta dónde llegan sus tentáculos". BBC News Mundo. 15 November 2022.
- ^ "La "Mexican Mafia" mantuvo alianza con el Cártel de Sinaloa y ofreció protección para el Chapo Guzmán en prisión". Infobae. 19 January 2025.
- ^ "Quién es "El Profe", líder de la Mexican Mafia que quiere controlar cárceles de EEUU, ligado al Cártel de Sinaloa". Infobae. 26 January 2025.
- ^ "Qué es el "Programa México" con el que la Mara Salvatrucha se expandió en ese país (y cuál fue el golpe que lo dejó al borde de su desaparición)". BBC News Mundo. 9 March 2023.
- ^ "The Expansion and Diversification of Mexican Cartels: Dynamic New Actors and Markets". IISS. 12 December 2024.
Works cited
- Arnold, James R. (1995). Napoleon Conquers Austria: The 1809 Campaign for Vienna. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-275-94694-4.
- Leggiere, Michael V. (2014). Blücher: Scourge of Napoleon. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 978-0-8061-4567-9.