Pancho Villa

Pancho Villa Portrait 1910

Villa close up

Oroszco; Baniff; Villa; Garibaldi (LOC)

General Villa Before The Firing Squad, Sentenced To Death

Fierro Pancho Villa Ortega Medina (cropped)

Gen Obregon, Villa, Pershing at Ft Bliss 1914

Pancho Villa (born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula; 5 June 1878 – 20 July 1923) was a prominent Mexican revolutionary general and one of the most notable figures of the Mexican Revolution, which took place between 1910 and 1920. Villa was a commander of the Division of the North, an armed faction that played a crucial role in the defeat of the Porfirio Díaz regime and in the subsequent revolutionary struggles for power in Mexico.

Early Life

Pancho Villa was born in the rural state of Durango, Mexico, into a poor peasant family. His early life was marked by hardship and the struggle for survival. At the age of 16, after his father's death, Villa reportedly killed a man who had assaulted his sister, which forced him to flee and live as a fugitive. During this period, he adopted the name Pancho Villa, a name by which he would become known in history.

Role in the Mexican Revolution

In 1910, Villa joined the revolutionary forces led by Francisco I. Madero against the long-standing dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz. Villa's charisma, leadership skills, and military tactics quickly elevated him within the ranks of the revolutionary forces. After Madero's assassination in 1913, Villa formed and led the Division of the North, becoming one of the principal leaders in the fight against Victoriano Huerta's regime.

Villa's military campaigns were notable for their strategic brilliance and for the loyalty he inspired among his troops. He was instrumental in several key battles, including the Battle of Ciudad Juárez and the Battle of Zacatecas, which significantly contributed to the defeat of Huerta's forces.

Conflict with Other Revolutionary Leaders

Despite his successes, Villa's relationship with other revolutionary leaders, particularly Venustiano Carranza and Álvaro Obregón, was fraught with conflict. After Carranza's ascent to power, Villa and his forces were declared outlaws. This led to a period of guerrilla warfare between Villa's forces and the Carranza government, culminating in Villa's infamous raid on Columbus, New Mexico in 1916, which prompted a U.S. military expedition into Mexico to capture him, known as the Punitive Expedition. However, Villa managed to elude capture.

Later Years and Death

In 1920, after years of conflict, Villa reached an agreement with the Mexican government, which allowed him to retire from active participation in politics in exchange for a hacienda in Durango, where he lived until his assassination in 1923.

Legacy

Pancho Villa is remembered as a hero of the Mexican Revolution, a champion of the poor, and a symbol of resistance against oppression. His life has been the subject of numerous books, films, and songs, cementing his status as a legendary figure in Mexican history.