What would it have taken for Maximilian and the Empire to win against the Republicans?
Imperial Victory Over the Republicans in Mexico
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The entire republican movement was centered on Benito Juarez, get rid of him and the movement fragments and it's easy to pick up the divided enemy.
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There was no one else who could have succeeded him if he died?
he had successors sure. The problem is that there were too many of them, and no one had the influence to pull all or even most of the others support. The result would be a power struggle amongst the Republics Generals and political leaders.
At best a divided and disorganized Republican resistance that couldn't hope to hold off Maximillian and his French allies. At worst the whole thing turns into a massive multisided civil war which Maximillian watches from the sideline, and then sweeps in to restore order after all other sides are exhausted. Of course, and Imperial Victory won't necessarily include all of Mexico.
Diaz could probably keep control of the South and with US support force a settlement for an independent southern Republic (greatly resembling Mexico during the Porfiriato). Not sure where the border would be, but Yucatan and most of Tuhauntapec for sure, probably all Oaxaca to since Juarez drew a lot of support from there even when it was under French occupation.
Not sure who would win out in the North, but it's doubtful whoever it is could stand-off the French. If they hold out till the US Civil War ends they could survive as a US backed Republic of northern Mexico. Though that region was always minimally controlled by Mexico City, and sparsely populated. Could wind up being absorbed in whole or in part by the United States. Likely, after a treaty settlement of the new border between Imperial Mexico and the United Sates.
I'm not too sure about Yucatan. What I've read concerning them makes them seem supportive, or at worst apathetic towards Maximilian. Not to mention, they had a lot of problems of their own what with the ongoing Caste War with the Mayans.
In fact with civil war and increasing chaos, could the Maya have been more successful in the Caste War, with Chan Santa Cruz retaking Valladolid(Saki) at this time, and perhaps other towns?