The Pastry War

Most wars are named in a way that gives you an incline about what they were about or, at the very least, who was fighting. The names make sense like the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. So it's understandable to be perplexed when you hear about a war called The Pastry War.

The Pastry War had pastry as the cause, but it was more a war looking for a cause than a cause for a war. It took place in 1838 and 1839 between the nations of France and Mexico. Before this time, Mexico was still a very young nation and France was not entirely recognize their independence. The king of France still considered Mexico an extension of Spain, and France and Spain were not on the best of terms, nor had they been for a few hundred years.

France and Mexico built a trade relationship in 1830, resulting in new tax tensions. And this contributed to the exacerbation of an already minor issue. During a period of civil unrest in Mexico City in 1828, a man named Remontel had his pastry shop ransacked by Mexican soldiers, who ate all of his pastries, and he claim compensation.

Remotel demanded 60,000 pesos in restitution from the Mexican government although his shop was only worth 1,000 dollars. He complained to France after Mexico refused. The King required Mexico to pay 600,000 pesos. Mexico contended the ideal was utterly ridiculous. France responded by deploying warships to set up a blockade. One thing led to another and the next thing you know, 30,000 French soldiers had taken control of Veracruz and captured the entire Mexican Navy.

After seven months of making no progress against the French, Mexico had to seek the British to intervene on their behalf. They paid France 600,000 pesos and Remontel got his 60,000.

• Date:: 27 November 1838 - 9 March 1839

• Location: Veracruz, Mexico