Back in Time Today
They fought against empires, stared down dictators, and lit the flames of rebellion—but history hasn’t always given them the credit they deserve. These 20 revolutionaries risked everything for the future of Mexico, and while their names may not fill schoolbooks, their bravery changed the course of a nation.
1. Carmen Serdán
The Serdán household was the nerve center of the anti-Díaz movement. Carmen coordinated weapons, planned uprisings, and faced down soldiers in her own home—rifle in hand. Her bravery became the stuff of legend.
2. Genovevo de la O
A loyal Zapatista who fought for land reform, Genovevo led rural fighters through brutal mountain campaigns. Despite betrayal and political setbacks, he refused to abandon his cause.
3. Hermila Galindo
Before women’s suffrage became a national issue, Hermila Galindo was already on the front lines. As a feminist and close ally of Venustiano Carranza, she campaigned for women’s rights and secular education—bold stances that sparked controversy and danger at every turn.
4. Felipe Ángeles
A brilliant artillery general and intellectual, Ángeles was the quiet force behind many of Pancho Villa’s biggest victories. His moderate politics and moral compass made him a rare figure in a bloody revolution—and a threat to extremists on all sides.
5. Juana Belén Gutiérrez de Mendoza
A fiery journalist and anarchist, Juana used her pen like a sword. Her newspaper was banned, her presses destroyed, and she was jailed more than once—but her voice never silenced.
6. Lucio Blanco
He was the first revolutionary to redistribute land to peasants—long before it became government policy. That bold move earned him enemies on both sides of the revolution and eventually led to his suspicious death.
7. Teresa Villarreal
Exiled to the U.S. for her activism, Villarreal kept the revolution alive through underground newspapers and labor organizing. From San Antonio to Laredo, she was a vital bridge between Mexican rebels and international allies.
8. Pascual Orozco
Initially a hero of the uprising against Porfirio Díaz, Orozco turned against the revolution when he felt betrayed by Madero’s moderation. His shift in allegiance made him a controversial but crucial figure in the conflict.
9. María Arias Bernal
A member of the “Damas de la Cruz Blanca,” María Arias didn’t fight with weapons but with bandages. She led medical aid efforts for wounded revolutionaries and became a symbol of resistance and compassion.
10. Rubén Jaramillo
Jaramillo carried Zapata’s legacy into the 20th century, fighting for peasant rights long after the revolution officially ended. He was assassinated in 1962—his death still surrounded by mystery and outrage.
11. Aquiles Serdán
One of the earliest martyrs of the revolution, Serdán’s house became the site of the first major clash against Díaz’s regime. Gunned down in his cellar, his stand sparked uprisings across the country.
12. Sara Estela Ramírez
Another exiled journalist and poet, Ramírez used her writing to fight both U.S. imperialism and Mexican tyranny. She inspired young revolutionaries on both sides of the border.
13. Saturnino Cedillo
From bandit to general to governor, Cedillo was a wildcard in the revolution. He championed land reform but clashed with the central government—earning him both power and persecution.
14. Dolores Jiménez y Muro
A schoolteacher turned revolutionary writer, she authored the “Political and Social Manifesto” that helped shape revolutionary ideology. Arrested repeatedly, she remained unbowed.
15. José María Leyva
As a Magonista rebel, Leyva believed in an anarchist vision of Mexico. He led an early uprising in Baja California and helped inspire workers and radicals for decades.
16. Margarita Neri
A fierce and feared Zapatista commander, Neri reportedly swore she would personally behead Díaz. While legends swirl around her, her role as a female leader in combat is undisputed.
17. Belisario Domínguez
A senator who dared to speak against the tyranny of Victoriano Huerta, Domínguez paid with his life. His assassination shocked the nation and fueled further revolt.
18. Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
A fiery orator and Zapatista ideologue, Soto y Gama fiercely defended peasant rights at the Constitutional Convention of 1917, even waving a sandal to symbolize campesino poverty.
19. Eulalia Guzmán
An educator, archaeologist, and revolutionary sympathizer, Guzmán smuggled weapons and intelligence. Her later controversies never erased her contributions to revolutionary logistics.
20. Ricardo Flores Magón
A radical thinker whose writings helped ignite the revolution, Magón’s ideas laid the groundwork for rebellion. He died in a U.S. prison—but his philosophy lived on in Mexico’s most radical factions.