The First Mexican Empire was a short-lived monarchy that ruled over Mexico from 21 July 1821 to 19 March 1823, with Agustin de Iturbide being its sole ruler during its brief period of existence. The empire was formed following the Mexican War of Independence and the expulsion of Spain's colonial authorities from New Spain, with some criollos defecting at the last minute to the rebel cause to seize power; Iturbide was among them. The former royalists ruled the First Mexican Empire for two years, but on 19 March 1823, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and other Mexican generals overthrew the empire in a coup and replaced it with a republic; its southern provinces would form the United States of Central America.
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Location of the First Mexican Empire