What honorific name did Mexico give Puebla after its 1862 victory over France?

Mexico gave Puebla the honorific name Puebla de Zaragoza after its 1862 victory over France.

The name honors General Ignacio Zaragoza, who commanded the Mexican Army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. His forces defeated a larger French expeditionary army, making the battle a major symbolic victory for Mexico during the French intervention.

The city is also officially known as Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza, meaning “Heroic Puebla of Zaragoza.” The title recognizes the city’s association with the successful defense against the French advance. Zaragoza died later in 1862, several months after the battle, from typhoid fever.

Puebla de Zaragoza is often shortened simply to Puebla in everyday use. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the battle, not Mexican independence; Mexico’s main independence holiday is celebrated on September 16.