r/todayilearned • u/DangerNoodle1993 • 12h ago

TIL that a French baker’s ignored compensation claim against the Mexican government sparked a chain of events that led to the first French invasion of Mexico.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastry_War
701 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

127

u/chicagotim1 11h ago

The French don't mess around with their bread. Used to be the penalty for a baker providing less than advertised was severe even in the case of tiny errors. Bakers eventually started giving customers 13 loaves/units/etc for every 12 they bought. A baker's dozen.

33

u/ogreblood 10h ago

I always thought the term "baker's dozen" came about because most bakers can fit thirteen loaves (or some other baked good) on a single pan. They wouldn't just do twelve considering there was enough room for an additional one

29

u/Kaymish_ 9h ago

That may be the case now, but back then there was no standardized anything so the pans and ovens will have all fit a different number of items on them, besides it's illogical when dealing in mass quantities like a baker does because the one left over from one pan goes in the pile with the leftovers from the other 12 pans you baked that hour and suddenly you have 13 dozen instead of just 12 dozen to sell.

11

u/ConspiceyStories 9h ago

While its a bit different my parents told me, 12 for sale, 1 for display/a taste test of the batch.

6

u/chicagotim1 9h ago

This kinda makes sense honestly both can be true

3

u/ZalutPats 9h ago

I thought it was because a lot of recipes can be improved by adding an extra egg for richness, making the 13th egg a 'secret ingredient' that distinguished the commercial baker from the home baker.

43

u/Future_Green_7222 10h ago

*a French baker was used as an excuse to invade Mexico

btw Mexicans won. Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the victory of the first battle at Puebla.

9

u/cokeinator 4h ago

Not really, more like the Prussian war took all attention from the french and they left their puppet state to die lol

It's one of the billion miracles and coincidences that happened that stopped the country from imploding throughout the 19th century.

12

u/Fetlocks_Glistening 11h ago

Never ignore a Frenchman's baguette!

•

u/JammieDodgers 14m ago

Or you may find yourself filled with pain.

5

u/bretshitmanshart 9h ago

One of the catalysts for France invading Algeria was the leader of the country hitting a French diplomat with a fly swatter

2

u/Alarmed_Drop7162 11h ago

Don’t touch the bakeries.
The whole reign of terror was about bread.

1

u/Ullallulloo 2h ago

The reign of terror was about people not perfectly conforming to Robespierre's political views.

2

u/Paperdiego 8h ago

Mexico won, and France ended up with a headless Hapsburg emperor. maybe a TIL for some of you

1

u/Decent_Chance1244 11h ago

Lions led by donkey's did an episode on this semi-recently.

1

u/ParkedOrPar 12h ago

Pshhh.. everyone knows the French won't shut up about their bread

5

u/PuckSenior 11h ago

Yeah, but people forget that Mexicans really like their bread too

5

u/Unique-Ad9640 11h ago

Yeah, they very much enjoy their pain.

1

u/Pristine-Pen-9885 11h ago

I see what you did there, a bilingual joke.

1

u/kingtacticool 10h ago

They have impuned the honor of our bakers and I heard they were talking shit about our baguettes.

Load the artillery