Battle of Chapultepec
1847 CE · Mexico City, Mexico
Quick Facts
- Year
- 1847 CE
- Location
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Era
- 🦅 American Wars
- Difficulty
- hard
The fortified castle of Chapultepec, perched on a hill overlooking Mexico City, was the last major obstacle to the American capture of the Mexican capital. US forces stormed the position on September 13, 1847, scaling the walls under heavy fire. Six young Mexican military cadets, the 'Ninos Heroes,' chose to die fighting rather than surrender, becoming enduring symbols of Mexican patriotism. The fall of Chapultepec led to the capture of Mexico City and the end of the war. The battle is immortalized in the opening line of the Marines' Hymn: 'From the Halls of Montezuma.'
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The six Mexican teenage cadets who died defending Chapultepec, known as the 'Ninos Heroes,' are honored with one of Mexico's most important national monuments. One reportedly wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and jumped from the ramparts rather than let it be captured.