Mexicans recreate 1862 Cinco de Mayo victory over French

May 5, 2022Updated: May 5, 2022 5:48 p.m.

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate

21

1of21People dressed as Zacapoaxtla Indigenous soldiers clash with others playing the part of French soldiers as they reenact The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 2of21A man fires a muzzleloader gun during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 3of21 4of21A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaxtla Indigenous soldier drinks tequila during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 5of21Women dance with French flags during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 6of21 7of21A local resident dressed as a woman fighter participates in a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 8of21A man plays a French army officer during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 9of21 10of21People dressed as Zacapoaxtla Indigenous fighters use a machete to cut the hair of a person dressed as a French soldier, as they re-enact The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 11of21A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaxtla Indigenous soldier loads a muzzleloader with gunpowder during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 12of21 13of21A man fires a muzzleloader gun during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 14of21A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaxtla Indigenous soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 15of21 16of21A woman with an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on her skirt dances during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 17of21Women dance during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 18of21 19of21People dressed as Zacapoaxtla Indigenous people clash with others playing the part of French soldiers as they reenact The Battle of Puebla as part of Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 20of21A man fires a cannon gun during a recreation of the Battle of Puebla between the Zacapoaxtlas Indigenous soldiers and the French army at the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City, Thursday, May 5, 2022. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of an ill-equipped Mexican army over French troops in Puebla on May 5, 1862.Eduardo Verdugo/APShow MoreShow Less 21of21

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Residents in Mexico City marched, danced and fired blanks from muskets Thursday to mark the 160th anniversary of the 1862 victory over French troops in the nearby city of Puebla.

Known as the Battle of Puebla, the victory gave rise to the Cinco de Mayo, a holiday more celebrated in the United States than in Mexico.

The French invasion of the 1860s was eventually, if briefly, successful.

The invasion set up the 1864-67 reign of Emperor Maximillian, who was later deposed and executed.

Puebla residents also dressed as French troops and Zacapoaxtlas, the Indigenous and farmer contingent that helped Mexican troops win.

Pedro Rodríguez, a customs service worker, dressed in the straw hat and kerchief of a Zacapoaxtla, with the modern addition of some sun glasses to ward off the harsh sunlight.

“This is about winning the battle in honor of the flag of Mexico,” Rodríguez said.