# Pancho Villa

Pancho Villa was one of the most prominent figures of the Mexican Revolution. A cattle rustler turned revolutionary general, he commanded the División del Norte — the largest revolutionary army. He raided Columbus, New Mexico in 1916, triggering a US punitive expedition. He was assassinated in 1923 and remains a legendary, polarizing figure.

## Quick Facts

- **Born:** June 5, 1878
- **Birthplace:** San Juan del Río, Mexico
- **Nationality:** Mexican
- **Occupation:** politician
- **Category:** Power & Politics
- **Also Known As:** El Centauro del Norte, La Cucaracha

## Overview

Francisco "Pancho" Villa was a Mexican revolutionary, guerrilla leader, and politician. He was a key figure in the Mexican Revolution, which forced out President and dictator Porfirio Díaz and brought Francisco I. Madero to power in 1911. When Madero was ousted by a coup led by General Victoriano Huerta in February 1913, Villa joined the anti-Huerta forces in the Constitutionalist Army led by Venustiano Carranza. After the defeat and exile of Huerta in July 1914, Villa broke with Carranza. Villa dominated the meeting of revolutionary generals that excluded Carranza and helped create a coalition government. Emiliano Zapata and Villa became formal allies in this period. Like Zapata, Villa was strongly in favor of land reform, but did not implement it when he had power. Villa served as provisional governor of Chihuahua from 1913 to 1914.

## Wikipedia Context

This profile section is complemented from Wikipedia for Pancho Villa. Mexican revolutionary general and politician (1878–1923)

## Sources

Primary source page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa

## Timeline

### 1857 — The Constitucionalista adjective was added to stress the point that Huerta...
The Constitucionalista adjective was added to stress the point that Huerta legally had not obtained power through lawful avenues laid out by Mexico's Constitution of 1857

### 1878 — Birth
Birth of Pancho Villa.

### 1878 — According to most sources, he was born on 5 June 1878, and named José Doroteo...
According to most sources, he was born on 5 June 1878, and named José Doroteo Arango Arámbula at birth

### 1894 — In fact on September 22, 1894 he shot Negrete in the foot
In fact on September 22, 1894 he shot Negrete in the foot

### 1898 — In 1898 he was arrested for gun and mule theft
In 1898 he was arrested for gun and mule theft

### 1902 — In 1902, the rurales, the crack rural police force of President Porfirio Díaz,...
In 1902, the rurales, the crack rural police force of President Porfirio Díaz, arrested Pancho for stealing mules and for assault

### 1903 — In 1903, after killing an army officer and stealing his horse, he was no longer...
In 1903, after killing an army officer and stealing his horse, he was no longer known as Arango but Francisco "Pancho" Villa after his paternal grandfather, Jesús Villa

### 1909 — Villa strongly disapproved of Madero's decision to name Venustiano Carranza...
Villa strongly disapproved of Madero's decision to name Venustiano Carranza (who previously had been a staunch supporter of Diaz until Diaz refused to appoint him as Governor of Coahuila in 1909) as his Minister of War

### 1910 — Villa joined in the armed rebellion that Francisco Madero called for in 1910 to...
Villa joined in the armed rebellion that Francisco Madero called for in 1910 to oust incumbent President Porfirio Díaz in the Plan de San Luis Potosí

### 2026 — Wikipedia Complement
Profile metadata and editorial blocks were complemented using Wikipedia and Wikidata references.

### 2026 — Profile Update
Structured profile components were updated to improve completeness.

## Quotes

> "Profile note: Pancho Villa was complemented using Wikipedia reference material."
> — Pancho Villa, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

> "Editorial note: This block stores profile notes and source context, not attributed quotations."
> — Pancho Villa, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

> "Source note: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancho_Villa"
> — Pancho Villa, Peoplebio editorial note (2026)

---
Source: https://peoplebio.info/p/pancho-villa