Sierra Gorda, where he was well known and regarded amongst the population. Before the plan could be carried out, the gates to the town were opened by the Imperialist Colonel Miguel Lopez for a sum of gold. Mejía , and the rest of the imperial leadership were captured on May 15, 1867. Escobedo, whose life had been spared by Mejía six years earlier offered Mejía an escape, but he refused it unless he could be accompanied by Maximilian, and Miramon, terms which Escobedo found unacceptable. Mejía was tried by a court martial at which he was defended by the lawyer Prospero Vega. The defense brought up that previously Mejía had been merciful when capturing the enemy, sparing general Mariano Escobedo, and Jeronimo Trevino, but the court still sentenced Mejía to death. Mejía , Maximilian, and Miramon were shot by firing squad at dawn on June 19, 1867. Decorations Mejía was awarded Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Guadalupe in 1864 and Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of the Mexican Eagle in 1865. In 1865, Napoleon III granted him the cross of the Legion of Honor. References Sources Hamnett, Brian. "Mexican Conservatives, Clericals and Soldiers: the 'Traitor' Tomás Mejía through Reform and Empire, 1855-1867." Bulletin of Latin American Research 20, no. 2 (2001): 187–209. External links 1820 births 1867 deaths Indigenous Mexicans Mexican generals Mexican monarchists Mexican military personnel of the Mexican–American War Executed Mexican people People executed by Mexico by firing squad People executed for treason against Mexico Executed military personnel Politicians from Querétaro Second French intervention in Mexico Governors of Querétaro Conservatism in Mexico Military personnel from Querétaro 19th-century Mexican politicians 19th-century Mexican military personnel