Emiliano Zapata

Iconic leader of the agrarian movement in Morelos during the Mexican Revolution.

Chronology: 1879-08-08 – 1919-04-10

Origins & Early Life

Emiliano Zapata Salazar (Latin American Spanish: [emiˈljano saˈpata]; 8 August 1879 – 10 April 1919) was a Mexican revolutionary and guerrilla leader. He was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920, the main leader of the people's revolution in the Mexican state of Morelos, and the inspiration of the agrarian movement called Zapatismo. Zapata was born in the rural village of Anenecuilco, Morelos in an era when peasant communities came under increasing repression from the small-landowning class who monopolized land and water resources for sugarcane production with the support of dictator Porfirio Díaz (President from 1877 to 1880 and 1884 to 1911). Zapata early on participated in political movements against the Porfiriato and the landowning hacendados, and when the Revolution broke out in 1910 he became a leader of the peasant revolt in Morelos.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Cooperating with a number of other peasant leaders, he formed the Liberation Army of the South, of which he soon became the undisputed leader. Zapata's forces contributed to the fall of Díaz, defeating the Federal Army in the Battle of Cuautla in May 1911, but when the revolutionary leader Francisco I. Madero became president...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia