Chapter 1: The Edge of Two Worlds (1810–1821)
Historical Background (accurate to real life):
José María de Echeandía was born in 1788 in Mexico (then New Spain). A well-educated military man trained in Spain, he remained loyal to the Crown during the early 1810s. However, like many Criollos (Mexican-born Spaniards), he became disillusioned by the corruption and neglect from the Iberian peninsula.
As the tide of revolution swept through New Spain, Echeandía climbed the ranks—not because of politics, but because of genuine discipline, tactical genius, and a deep concern for the people under his command. He sympathized with mestizos and indigenous soldiers, often treating them better than many of his fellow officers. This made him popular—but politically dangerous.
In this alternate history:
Miguel/Echeandía knows that Agustín de Iturbide will declare himself Emperor in 1821 after switching sides and issuing the Plan of Iguala. But he also knows that Iturbide's empire will be short-lived, chaotic, and riddled with corruption.
So Miguel begins working behind the scenes in 1820: consolidating loyal units in northern Mexico, building relationships with both Criollos and native leaders, and quietly positioning himself as a man of the people—a visionary who could unify the vast and fractured territory, especially the north and California.
He sends letters to fellow reformers, warning them of Iturbide's ambitions and offering a third path: a Mexican Empire not rooted in European mimicry, but in American practicality—built on unity between north and south, with tolerance for mixed heritage, and a standing army that protects its borders and its people.