<Tr> <Td> Mosquito Coast </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> The Mexican Empire (Spanish: Imperio Mexicano) was a short - lived monarchy and the first independent post-colonial state in Mexico . It was the only former colony of the Spanish Empire to establish a monarchy after independence and for a short time, together with the Brazilian Empire, it was one of two European - style empires in the Americas . The First Mexican Empire lasted less than two years . </P> <P> It existed from the signing of the Treaty of Córdoba and the declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire in September 1821 until the emperor's abdication in March 1823 when the Provisional Government took power and the First Mexican Republic was proclaimed in 1824 . The first and only monarch of the state was Agustín de Iturbide, reigning as Agustín I of Mexico, for less than eight months . The empire was briefly reestablished by the French in 1863 . </P> <P> The various independentist factions in revolutionary Mexico coalesced around three principles, or "guarantees," for Mexican independence from Spain: that Mexico would be an independent constitutional monarchy governed by a conservative European prince; that criollos and peninsulares would henceforth enjoy equal rights and privileges; and that the Roman Catholic Church would retain its privileges and position as the official religion of the land . These Three Guarantees formed the core of the Plan of Iguala, the revolutionary blueprint which, by combining the goal of independence and a constitution with the preservation of Catholic monarchy, brought together all Mexican factions . Under the 24 February 1821 Plan of Iguala, to which most of the provinces subscribed, the Mexican Congress established a regency council which was headed by Iturbide . </P>

Who was the emperor of mexico who was overthrown in 1823