Biography of Pancho Villa, Mexican Revolutionary.
Francisco "Pancho" Villa was a Mexican revolutionary leader who advocated for the poor and land reform. He
helped lead the Mexican Revolution, which ended the reign of Porfirio Díaz and led to the creation of a new
government in Mexico. Today, Villa is remembered as a folk hero and a champion of the lower classes.
Fast Facts: Pancho Villa
Known For: Villa was a leader of the Mexican Revolution, which overturned the government of
Mexico.
Also Known As: José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, Francisco Villa
Born: June 5, 1878 in San Juan del Río, Durango, Mexico
Parents: Agustín Arango and Micaela Arámbula
Died: July 20, 1923 in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico
Spouse(s): Unknown (according to legend, he was married more than 70 times)
Early Life
Pancho Villa was born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula on June 5, 1878. He was the son of a sharecropper at the
hacienda in San Juan del Rio, Durango. While growing up, Pancho Villa witnessed and experienced the
harshness of peasant life.
In Mexico during the late 19th century, the rich were becoming richer by taking advantage of the lower classes,
often treating them like slaves. When Villa was 15, his father died, so Villa began to work as a sharecropper to
help support his mother and four siblings.
One day in 1894, Villa came home from the fields to find that the owner of the hacienda intended to have sex
with Villa's 12-year old sister. Villa, only 16 years old, grabbed a pistol, shot the owner of the hacienda, and then
took off for the mountains.
Exile
From 1894 to 1910, Villa spent most of his time in the mountains running from the law. At first, he did what he
could to survive by himself. By 1896, however, he had joined up with some other bandits and become their
leader.
Villa and his group of bandits would steal cattle, rob shipments of money, and commit other crimes against the
wealthy. Because he stole from the rich and often shared his spoils with the poor, some saw Villa as a modern-
day Robin Hood.
It was during this time that Doroteo Arango began using the name Francisco "Pancho" Villa. ("Pancho" is a
common nickname for "Francisco.") There are many theories as to why he chose that name. Some say it was the
name of a bandit leader he had met; others say it was Villa's fraternal grandfather's last name.
Villa's notoriety as a bandit and his prowess at escaping capture caught the attention of men who were planning
a revolution against the Mexican government. These men understood that Villa's skills would make him an
excellent guerilla fighter during the revolution.
Mexican Revolution
Since Porfirio Diaz, the sitting president of Mexico, had created many of the current problems for the poor
and Francisco Madero promised change for the lower classes, Pancho Villa decided to join Madero's cause and
agreed to be a leader in the revolutionary army.
From October 1910 to May 1911, Pancho Villa was a very effective military leader. However, in May 1911, Villa
resigned from command because of differences he had with another commander, Pascual Orozco, Jr.
Orozco Rebellion
On May 29, 1911, Villa married Maria Luz Corral and tried to settle into a quiet domestic life. Unfortunately,
though Madero had become president, political unrest again appeared in Mexico.
Orozco, angered by being left out of what he considered his rightful place in the new government, challenged
Madero by starting a new rebellion in the spring of 1912. Once again, Villa gathered troops and worked
with General Victoriano Huerta to support Madero in quashing the rebellion.
Prison
In June 1912, Huerta accused Villa of stealing a horse and ordered him to be executed. A reprieve from
Madero came for Villa at the very last minute, but Villa was still remitted to prison. He remained in prison
from June 1912 to when he escaped on December 27, 1912.
More Fighting and Civil War
By the time Villa escaped from prison, Huerta had switched from a Madero supporter to a Madero adversary.
On February 22, 1913, Huerta killed Madero and claimed the presidency for himself. Villa then allied himself
with Venustiano Carranza to fight against Huerta. He was extremely successful, winning battle after battle during
the next several years. After Villa conquered Chihuahua and other northern areas, he spent much of his time
reallocating land and stabilizing the economy.
In the summer of 1914, Villa and Carranza split and became enemies. For the next several years, Mexico
continued to be embroiled in a civil war between the factions of Pancho Villa and Venustiano Carranza.
Raid on Columbus, New Mexico
The United States took sides in the battle and supported Carranza. On March 9, 1916, Villa attacked the town
of Columbus, New Mexico. His was the first foreign attack on American soil since 1812. The United States sent
several thousand soldiers across the border to hunt for Villa. Though they spent over a year searching, they never
caught him.
Peace
On May 20, 1920, Carranza was assassinated and Adolfo De la Huerta became the interim president of
Mexico. De la Huerta wanted peace in Mexico, so he negotiated with Villa for his retirement. Part of the peace
agreement was that Villa would receive a hacienda in Chihuahua.
Death
Villa retired from revolutionary life in 1920 but had only a short retirement, for he was gunned down in his
car on July 20, 1923. He was buried in Parral, Chihuahua.
Legacy
For his role in the Mexican Revolution, Villa became a folk hero. His life has inspired numerous films, including
"The Life of General Villa," "Viva Villa!," and "Pancho Villa Returns."
Biography of Pancho Villa, Mexican Revolutionary.
Francisco "Pancho" Villa ____ a Mexican revolutionary leader who _______ for the poor and land reform. He
_______ lead the Mexican Revolution, which ______ the reign of Porfirio Díaz and ____ to the creation of a
new government in Mexico. Today, Villa is _________ as a folk hero and a champion of the lower classes.
Fast Facts: Pancho Villa
Known For: Villa was a leader of the Mexican Revolution, which _______ the government of Mexico.
Also Known As: José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, Francisco Villa
Born: June 5, 1878 in San Juan del Río, Durango, Mexico
Parents: Agustín Arango and Micaela Arámbula
Died: July 20, 1923 in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico
Spouse(s): Unknown (according to legend, he was _______ more than 70 times)
Early Life
Pancho Villa _____ born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula on June 5, 1878. He ____ the son of a sharecropper at
the hacienda in San Juan del Rio, Durango. While growing up, Pancho Villa ________ and ________ the
harshness of peasant life.
In Mexico during the late 19th century, the rich _______ becoming richer by taking advantage of the lower
classes, often treating them like slaves. When Villa _____ 15, his father _____, so Villa ______ to work as a
sharecropper to help support his mother and four siblings.
One day in 1894, Villa _____ home from the fields to find that the owner of the hacienda _______ to have sex
with Villa's 12-year old sister. Villa, only 16 years old, _______ a pistol, shot the owner of the hacienda, and then
______ off for the mountains.
Exile
From 1894 to 1910, Villa ______ most of his time in the mountains running from the law. At first, he ____ what
he ______ to survive by himself. By 1896, however, he _____ ______ up with some other bandits and
_______ their leader.
Villa and his group of bandits would steal cattle, rob shipments of money, and commit other crimes against the
wealthy. Because he _______ from the rich and often ______ his spoils with the poor, some saw Villa as a
modern-day Robin Hood.
It _______ during this time that Doroteo Arango _______ using the name Francisco "Pancho" Villa. ("Pancho"
is a common nickname for "Francisco.") There are many theories as to why he chose that name. Some say it ___
the name of a bandit leader he ____ ____; others say it was Villa's fraternal grandfather's last name.
Villa's notoriety as a bandit and his prowess at escaping capture ______ the attention of men who _______
planning a revolution against the Mexican government. These men ________ that Villa's skills would make him
an excellent guerilla fighter during the revolution.
Mexican Revolution
Since Porfirio Diaz, the sitting president of Mexico, _____ ______ many of the current problems for the poor
and Francisco Madero _______ change for the lower classes, Pancho Villa ______ to join Madero's cause and
_______ to be a leader in the revolutionary army.
From October 1910 to May 1911, Pancho Villa ______ a very effective military leader. However, in May 1911, Villa
________ from command because of differences he _____ with another commander, Pascual Orozco, Jr.
Orozco Rebellion
On May 29, 1911, Villa _____ Maria Luz Corral and ______ to settle into a quiet domestic life. Unfortunately,
________ Madero had become president, political unrest again _________ in Mexico.
Orozco, ________ by ______ ______ out of what he ________ his rightful place in the new government,
__________ Madero by starting a new rebellion in the spring of 1912. Once again, Villa _______ troops and
________ with General Victoriano Huerta to support Madero in quashing the rebellion.
Prison
In June 1912, Huerta __________ Villa of stealing a horse and ______ him to be ______. A reprieve from
Madero _______ for Villa at the very last minute, but Villa _______ still _______ to prison. He _______ in
prison from June 1912 to when he ___________ on December 27, 1912.
More Fighting and Civil War
By the time Villa ________ from prison, Huerta ____ _______ from a Madero supporter to a Madero
adversary. On February 22, 1913, Huerta ______ Madero and ______ the presidency for himself. Villa then
allied himself with Venustiano Carranza to fight against Huerta. He was extremely successful, winning battle after
battle during the next several years. After Villa _______ Chihuahua and other northern areas, he ______ much
of his time reallocating land and stabilizing the economy.
In the summer of 1914, Villa and Carranza split and ________ enemies. For the next several years, Mexico
__________ to be ________ in a civil war between the factions of Pancho Villa and Venustiano Carranza.
Raid on Columbus, New Mexico
The United States ____ sides in the battle and _______ Carranza. On March 9, 1916, Villa ______ the town of
Columbus, New Mexico. His ______ the first foreign attack on American soil since 1812. The United States
______ several thousand soldiers across the border to hunt for Villa. Though they _____ over a year searching,
they never ______ him.
Peace
On May 20, 1920, Carranza was _________ and Adolfo De la Huerta ________ the interim president of
Mexico. De la Huerta ______ peace in Mexico, so he ______ with Villa for his retirement. Part of the peace
agreement was that Villa would receive a hacienda in Chihuahua.
Death
Villa ________ from revolutionary life in 1920 but ______ only a short retirement, for he was ______ down
in his car on July 20, 1923. He was ______ in Parral, Chihuahua.
Legacy
For his role in the Mexican Revolution, Villa _______ a folk hero. His life has ________ numerous films,
including "The Life of General Villa," "Viva Villa!," and "Pancho Villa Returns."
