Mexican firing squad, 1867 - picture of the day

Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was an Austrian Habsburg, who was sent to Mexico by Napoléon III of France to establish a puppet regime with backing from Mexican monarchists. His French forces were defeated by the Mexican Republicans under President Benito Juaréz and his three-year reign ended with his capture and execution. Maximilian and two of his generals were shot on June 19, 1867 in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico and this photograph is thought to have been taken later that day. Aubert, a French photographer, was on hand to document the events and his images caused consternation in Europe
Illustration: Photograph: François Aubert