Book excerpt: This volume, first published in 1868, tells the story of Emperor Maximilian's brief and ill-fated reign over Mexico, from his arrival in 1864 to his execution by firing squad in 1867. The book, which includes a selection of Maximilian's letters and official documents, provides a valuable perspective on a turbulent period in Mexican history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.