Sister Margarita of Jesus
Encyclopedia
Juana María de Iturbide y Huarte (1811 – October 2, 1828), Princess of Mexico, known as Sister Margarita of Jesus, was the third child of Agustín I of Mexico (Agustín de Iturbide) and Empress Ana Maria Huarte. She died at a young age at the Visitation Convent
in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Juana Maria was born in New Spain
, when the colony was still under the control of King of Spain and ruled by the Viceroy of New Spain. Her birth year coincided with the Mexican War of Independence
, which would catapult her father to fame and secure his place on the Mexican imperial throne.
The Iturbides originated from minor Spanish nobility
of Basque
descent, who came to Mexico in the mid-18th century. Juana María had two elder siblings, Agustin Jeromino and Sabina
, and several younger siblings: Josefa, Ángel, Jesus, María-Jesus, María, Salvador, Felipe and Agustín Cosme. She was baptised as a Roman Catholic
.
She was designated Princesca de México upon her father's accession in 1822. She was referred to as Her Highness rather than Imperial Highness
, which was reserved for the Prince Imperial. In 1823, during the last days of the Mexican Empire
, Juana María was the sixth in line to the throne, after her four brothers and elder sister. Her father abdicated
his throne after less than 10 months reign and the royal family was exiled from Mexico. On May 11, 1823, the royal family and some servants boarded the English
ship "Rawlins", bound for Livorno
, Italy
. There her father rented a small country house and began to write his memoirs. Under pressure from Spain
, Italy expelled the Iturbide family, and they moved to England.
Iturbide returned to Mexico and was executed July 9, 1824, in Padilla, Tamaulipas
. The Dowager-Empress Anna Maria moved her family, including Juana Maria, to the United States
. They lived in Washington, D.C.
and in Philadelphia on Spruce St. near 13th, and later at 226 Broad St.
Juana Maria became a novice
in the Visitation Convent at Georgetown in Washington, D.C. On her deathbed, she professed herself a nun and took the name "Sister Margarita of Jesus". She died around the age of 17 at the convent, where she is also buried.
Visitation Convent, Georgetown
The Visitation Convent, Georgetown is a nunnery of the Visitation Order, located in the District of Columbia, United States of America.-History:...
in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
Biography
Juana Maria was born in New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
, when the colony was still under the control of King of Spain and ruled by the Viceroy of New Spain. Her birth year coincided with the Mexican War of Independence
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
, which would catapult her father to fame and secure his place on the Mexican imperial throne.
The Iturbides originated from minor Spanish nobility
Spanish nobility
Spanish nobles are persons who possess the legal status of hereditary nobility according to the laws and traditions of the Spanish monarchy. A system of titles and honours of Spain and of the former kingdoms that constitute it comprise the Spanish nobility...
of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent, who came to Mexico in the mid-18th century. Juana María had two elder siblings, Agustin Jeromino and Sabina
Sabina de Iturbide y Huarte
Doña Sabina de Iturbide y Huarte, Princess of Mexico was a Mexican princess during the short-lived First Mexican Empire and a member of the Imperial House of Iturbide. She was the eldest daughter of Agustín de Iturbide and Ana María de Huarte y Muñiz...
, and several younger siblings: Josefa, Ángel, Jesus, María-Jesus, María, Salvador, Felipe and Agustín Cosme. She was baptised as a Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
.
She was designated Princesca de México upon her father's accession in 1822. She was referred to as Her Highness rather than Imperial Highness
Imperial Highness
His/Her Imperial Highness is a style used by members of an imperial family to denote imperial - as opposed to royal - status to show that the holder in question is descended from an Emperor rather than a King .Today the style has mainly fallen from use with the exception of the Imperial Family of...
, which was reserved for the Prince Imperial. In 1823, during the last days of the Mexican Empire
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
, Juana María was the sixth in line to the throne, after her four brothers and elder sister. Her father abdicated
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
his throne after less than 10 months reign and the royal family was exiled from Mexico. On May 11, 1823, the royal family and some servants boarded the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ship "Rawlins", bound for Livorno
Livorno
Livorno , traditionally Leghorn , is a port city on the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western edge of Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of approximately 160,000 residents in 2009.- History :...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. There her father rented a small country house and began to write his memoirs. Under pressure from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Italy expelled the Iturbide family, and they moved to England.
Iturbide returned to Mexico and was executed July 9, 1824, in Padilla, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
. The Dowager-Empress Anna Maria moved her family, including Juana Maria, to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They lived in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and in Philadelphia on Spruce St. near 13th, and later at 226 Broad St.
Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is nearly 13 miles long.It is Pennsylvania Route 611 along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309 and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95...
Juana Maria became a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
in the Visitation Convent at Georgetown in Washington, D.C. On her deathbed, she professed herself a nun and took the name "Sister Margarita of Jesus". She died around the age of 17 at the convent, where she is also buried.