The name “Agustin De Iturbide” shows up across genealogy databases, historical archives, and family tree websites. But it doesn’t always point to the same person. For researchers and curious readers alike, knowing which Iturbide is which makes a real difference.
This article covers the primary historical figure behind the name, his family background, his brief time as emperor, and a practical guide for anyone who encounters the name in a genealogy search.
Who Was Agustín de Iturbide?
His full name was Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Arámburu. He was born on September 27, 1783, in Valladolid, New Spain — the city now known as Morelia, in the Mexican state of Michoacán.
Iturbide started his career as a royalist military commander, serving the Spanish Crown during Mexico’s early independence struggles. Over time, he shifted his position and played a central role in completing Mexico’s independence. He later became the first emperor of Mexico under the name Agustín I.
His life ended abruptly. On July 19, 1824, he was executed by Mexican authorities at Padilla, Tamaulipas, after returning to Mexico from exile. He was 40 years old.
His Role in Mexican Independence
It’s important to understand that Iturbide was not the sole architect of Mexican independence. The movement involved years of armed conflict, earlier insurgent leaders, and complex political negotiations long before Iturbide became its final face.
What he did contribute was decisive in the final phase. In 1821, he proposed the Plan of Iguala, a document that brought together royalists and independence fighters under three core guarantees: independence from Spain, the preservation of the Catholic religion, and equal rights for all inhabitants regardless of origin.
This was followed by the Treaties of Córdoba, which formalized Spain’s recognition of Mexican independence. After Spain withdrew, Iturbide led a governing regency before taking the next step.
In 1822, he declared himself Emperor of Mexico. His reign lasted less than a year. He abdicated on March 19, 1823, amid political opposition and military pressure. The First Mexican Empire was over almost as soon as it began.
His Parents, Spouse, and Children
Iturbide came from a colonial family with deep roots in the Basque-Navarrese region of Spain. Specifically, the Iturbide family name traces back to the Baztán area and Peralta in what is now the Navarre region.
His father was José Joaquín de Iturbide, and his mother was María Josefa de Arámburu. Both names are important reference points when verifying genealogy records, since many family tree entries omit key details that help distinguish one Iturbide from another.
In 1805, Agustín married Ana María Huarte y Muñiz, a woman from a prominent Valladolid family. Her family was connected to the House of Tagle and the Marquises of Altamira, making the marriage a notable social union at the time.
Together, they had several children. Their names, according to Spanish-language historical records, included:
- Agustín Jerónimo
- Ángel María
- Sabina
- Juana
- Josefa
- Salvador
- Felipe
- María de Jesús
Each of these children had their own life story, and some of them — particularly the sons — appear in historical and genealogy records that researchers sometimes confuse with their father’s entry.
Three Iturbides Who Share the Name
This is where the confusion starts. Genealogy databases, family tree websites, and online search results regularly surface multiple people named “Agustín de Iturbide.” They are not the same person.
Agustín de Iturbide (1783–1824)
This is the emperor himself — the primary historical figure. If a record shows a birth date of September 27, 1783, a birthplace in Valladolid (Michoacán), parents José Joaquín de Iturbide and María Josefa de Arámburu, and a death in 1824, it is almost certainly referring to him.
Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide y Huarte (born 1807)
This is the emperor’s eldest son and heir apparent. He was born in 1807, which already places him in a completely different generation. His records appear frequently alongside searches for his father, particularly on platforms that don’t include middle names or full family connections. He is a distinct individual with his own biographical record.
Agustín de Iturbide y Green
This is a later-generation descendant. He was the son of Ángel María de Iturbide y Huarte — one of the emperor’s other children — and a woman named Alice Green. He belongs to a collateral line of the family and has no direct connection to the emperor’s own life events. Yet his name can appear in searches that pull broadly on the Iturbide surname.
Online genealogy databases sometimes omit accents, drop titles, or leave out middle names entirely. That means “Agustín Jerónimo de Iturbide y Huarte” and “Agustín de Iturbide y Green” can both appear under a simplified search for “Agustin De Iturbide” — right alongside the emperor himself.
The name alone is simply not enough to confirm identity. Dates, parents, spouse, and location all need to match before connecting any record to a specific person.
How to Tell Them Apart: A Practical Guide for Genealogy Research
If you’ve found a record with the name “Agustin De Iturbide” and you’re trying to figure out who it refers to, here’s a simple approach.
Think of it like searching for “John Smith” without a birth year. The name gives you a starting point, but nothing more. You need the supporting details.
Use this checklist when reviewing a record:
- Birth date and location: Does it match 1783 in Valladolid, Michoacán? If so, it may be the emperor. If the birth year is 1807 or later, it’s a descendant.
- Parents: Are the parents listed as José Joaquín de Iturbide and María Josefa de Arámburu? That confirms the emperor’s record. Different parents mean a different person.
- Spouse: The emperor married Ana María Huarte y Muñiz in 1805. If the spouse listed is different, the record belongs to someone else in the family.
- Death date and location: The emperor died in 1824 at Padilla, Tamaulipas. Any record showing a death after that date cannot be referring to him.
- Title or role: References to “Emperor,” “Agustín I,” or the Plan of Iguala are strong indicators of the primary historical figure.
It’s also worth remembering that user-submitted genealogy entries — on platforms like Geni or similar sites — should be treated as starting points rather than confirmed facts. Cross-checking with archival records, civil registrations, or established historical publications gives much more reliable results.
For readers interested in broader historical and biographical profiles like this one, Click Business Mag covers a range of well-researched topics across history, culture, and public figures.
His Place in History
Agustín de Iturbide occupies a complicated place in Mexican history. He helped bring Spanish colonial rule to an end, which is no small thing. The Plan of Iguala was a politically clever document that managed to unite groups that had been fighting each other for years.
At the same time, his imperial ambitions were short-lived and widely opposed. His reign lasted under a year, and he was ultimately forced out. He went into exile, returned against warnings, and was captured and executed.
He is not universally celebrated as a hero, nor is he simply remembered as a villain. His story is more layered than either label allows. Mexico later had a second emperor — Maximilian I — so Iturbide is also not the country’s only imperial ruler, a detail that genealogy researchers and history readers sometimes overlook.
Final Thoughts
The name Agustín de Iturbide carries significant historical weight. The man behind it — born in 1783 in what is now Morelia, Mexico — rose from a royalist soldier to the country’s first emperor, then fell just as quickly through abdication and eventual execution.
His family was large, his descendants spread across generations, and his surname appears repeatedly in historical records. That’s exactly why careful research matters. When you encounter the name, check the dates, confirm the parents, verify the spouse, and match the location before drawing conclusions.
History, like genealogy, rewards patience over assumption.
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