Pancho Villa

:Alternative use: Pancho Villa (boxer).

Biography

Doroteo Arango was born in San Juan del Río, Durango, in the year 1877 (although some argue he was born in 1878 or 1879). His obscure family origins and early life have been confused by the existence of many divergent and poorly documented accounts as well as popular oral tradition. One recent theory (2000) claims he was the illegitimate son of Luis Férman Gurrola, a wealthy hacendado or rancher whose own father was an immigrant of Austrian-Jewish origin, and Micaela Arámbula de Arango, a maid.

Related Topics:
San Juan del Río - Durango - 2000 - Hacendado - Austrian - Jewish

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After working for a time as a peon on his father's hacienda, he left and quickly took up the life of a bandit and outlaw in Durango and later in the state of Chihuahua, whence he immigrated. He was caught several times for crimes ranging from banditry to horse thievery and cattle rustling but, through influential connections, was always able to secure his release.

Related Topics:
Peon - Hacienda - Bandit - Outlaw - Chihuahua - Banditry - Horse - Cattle rustling

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Villa underwent a transformation after meeting Abraham González, the political representative of Francisco I. Madero in Chihuahua, Chihuahua.

Related Topics:
Abraham González - Francisco I. Madero - Chihuahua, Chihuahua

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

González gave Villa a basic education which opened his eyes to the political world and changed the way in which he thought about his own life and his relation to those in power (in the state of Chihuahua, the powerful Creel/Terrazas family).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From this point until near the end of his life, Villa considered himself a revolutionary fighting for the people.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1911, with U.S. support, Villa helped defeat the federal army of Porfirio Díaz in favour of Francisco I. Madero. Following Madero's power, General Huerta sentenced Villa to death for insubordination. Villa escaped to the U.S. border until it was safe. After that, Villa again rebelled against former allies, first against Victoriano Huerta, later against Venustiano Carranza. Carranza, in an attempt to appease both Villa and Emiliano Zapata offered them both great ranches, or Haciendas. Villa accepted his offer while Zapata did not. This is one of the reasons that the reputation of Villa as a revolutionary/folk hero has been debated.

Related Topics:
1911 - U.S. - Porfirio Díaz - Francisco I. Madero - Victoriano Huerta - Venustiano Carranza - Emiliano Zapata

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On March 9, 1916, Villa led 1,500 Mexican raiders in a cross-border attack against Columbus, New Mexico, in response to the U.S. government's official recognition of the Carranza regime. They attacked a US Cavalry detachment, seized 100 horses and mules, burned the town, and killed 17 of its residents.

Related Topics:
March 9 - 1916 - Columbus, New Mexico

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

U.S. President Woodrow Wilson responded by sending 12,000 troops, under Gen. John J. Pershing, into Mexico on March 15 to pursue Villa. In the U.S., this was known as the Pancho Villa Expedition. During the search, the United States launched its first air combat mission when eight aeroplanes lifted off on March 19. The expedition to capture Villa was called off as a failure on January 28, 1917.

Related Topics:
U.S. - President - Woodrow Wilson - John J. Pershing - March 15 - Pancho Villa Expedition - March 19 - January 28 - 1917

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1920, Villa ended his revolutionary actions. He was assassinated three years later in Parral, Chihuahua.

Related Topics:
1920 - Revolutionary - Assassinated - Parral, Chihuahua

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a perceived rebel against injustice and abuse, and despite the violent excesses he undeniably committed, Villa is still remembered in Mexico as a folk hero.

Related Topics:
Rebel - Injustice - Abuse - Folk hero

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~