Important Dates in Mexican History

On January 17, 1811, a rebellious army of peasants and workers led by Father Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende fought a smaller but better equipped and trained Spanish force at Calderon Bridge, outside of Guadalajara. The stunning rebel defeat helped drag out Mexico's War of Independence for years and led to the capture and execution of Allende and Hidalgo.

On March 9, 1916, legendary Mexican bandit and warlord Pancho Villa led his army across the border and attacked the town of Columbus, New Mexico, hoping to secure money and weapons. Although the raid was a failure and led to an extensive US-led manhunt for Villa, it greatly increased his reputation in Mexico.

On April 6, 1915, two titans of the Mexican Revolution collided outside of the town of Celaya. Alvaro Obregon got there first, and dug himself in with his machine guns and trained infantry. Pancho Villa soon arrived with a massive army including the best cavalry in the world at the time. Over the course of ten days, these two would fight it out, and Villa's loss marked the beginning of the end for his hopes of being the last man standing.

On April 10, 1919, rebel leader Emiliano Zapata was set up, betrayed and assassinated in Chinameca. Zapata had been the moral conscience of the Mexican Revolution, fighting for land and freedom for the poorest Mexicans.

The famous "Cinco de Mayo" celebrates an unlikely victory by Mexican forces over French invaders in 1862. The French, who had sent an army to Mexico to collect on a debt, were advancing on the city of Puebla. The French army was massive and well-trained, but heroic Mexicans stopped them in their tracks, led in part by a dashing young General named Porfirio Diaz.

In May of 1520, Spanish conquistadors had a tentative hold on Tenochtitlan, now called Mexico City. On May 20, Aztec nobles asked Pedro de Alvarado for permission to hold a traditional festival, and he permitted it. According to Alvartado, the Aztecs were planning a rebellion, and according to the Aztecs, Alvarado and his men wanted the golden jewelry they wore. In any case, Alvarado ordered his men to attack the festival, resulting in the slaughter of hundreds of unarmed Aztec nobles.

1914: Surrounded by angry warlords, Mexican usurper President Victoriano Huerta sends his best troops to defend the city and railway junction at Zacatecas in a desperate effort to keep rebels out of the city. Ignoring orders from supposed rebel leader Venustiano Carranza, Pancho Villa attacks the town. Villa's resounding victory cleared the path to Mexico City and begins the downfall of Huerta.

On July 20, 1923, legendary bandit warlord Pancho Villa was gunned down in the town of Parral. He had survived the Mexican Revolution and had been living quietly at his ranch. Even now, years later, questions linger over who killed him and why.

On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo took to the pulpit in the town of Dolores and announced that he was taking up arms against the hated Spanish...and invited his congregation to join him. His army swelled to hundreds, then thousands, and would carry this unlikely rebel to the gates of Mexico City itself. Ths "Cry of Dolores" marks Mexico's Independence Day.

1810: Father Miguel Hidalgo's rag-tag rebel army was moving towards Mexico City, and the city of Guanajuato would be their first stop. Spanish soldiers and citizens barricaded themselves inside the massive royal granary. Although they defended themselves valiantly, Hidalgo's mob was too large, and when the granary was breached the slaughter began.