Francisco "Pancho" Villa

Francisco "Pancho" Villa was the other iconic Mexican revolutionary who, with his northern division (División del Norte), fought against Porfirio Díaz's regime and then took the stance against Huerta's usurpation of power after La Decena Trágica (The Ten Tragic Days). His real name was Doroteo Arango, but he has become known as El Centauro del Norte. He first sided with Venustiano Carranza, and During the civil war, he allied with Emiliano Zapata's troops against Venustiano Carranza's forces. However, his forces were defeated in 1915 by general Álvaro Obregón, who led Venustiano Carranza's forces. Pancho Villa fled to his state of Chihuahua and continued resisting the Carrancista forces. It is a well-known fact that President Woodrow Wilson sent General Pershing to capture Pancho Villa. However, General Pershing's troops could never catch him. Since then, Pancho Villa has continued to symbolize Mexican resistance to US interference and hegemony. Pancho Villa In 1920, after the assassination of President Venustiano Carranza, he was pardoned and settled in Parral, Chihuahua. He was assassinated in July of 1923. There have been several fictional movies and corridos (songs) about Pancho Villa's life.