Genevevo Rivas Guillén (1886–1947) was a Mexican general and provisional Governor of San Luis Potosi.

Origin

Rivas was born in Rayon, San Luis Potosí in 1886. He joined the revolutionary forces and participated in the

Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution ( es, Revolución Mexicana) was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from approximately 1910 to 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It resulted in the destruction ...

beginning in 1910, under the command of General Alberto Carrera Torres, where he was ranked lieutenant.

Battle of Carrizal The Battle of Carrizal occurred on June 21, 1916. It was a major skirmish between United States Army troops of General John J. Pershing's Punitive Expedition and Carrancista troops fought at the town of Carrizal in the Mexican state of Chihuah ...

On June 21, 1916, during the

Punitive Expedition A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a political entity or any group of people outside the borders of the punishing state or union. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavio ...

, a column of the U.S. Army under the command of Captain Charles T. Boyd were marching towards Rancho Santo Domingo from Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, overstepped the geographic limits granted to the Americans when the Mexican government of

Venustiano Carranza José Venustiano Carranza de la Garza (; 29 December 1859 – 21 May 1920) was a Mexican wealthy land owner and politician who was Governor of Coahuila when the constitutionally elected president Francisco I. Madero was overthrown in a February ...

approved the expedition. Lieutenant Rivas's forces, at the garrison at the nearby town of Carrizal, moved to block them and request their return to the authorized area. Captain Boyd refused, claiming he was pursuing an Army deserter. Rivas requested help from his superior, requesting their return, so Captain Boyd refused, and warned that going after a U.S. army deserter, requesting the presence of his superior, General

Félix Gómez Félix Gómez (born 1977) is a Spanish actor. He earned early success in Spain in the early 2000s for his performance in the television series ''Al salir de clase''. He is also known for his performances in ''Amar en tiempos revueltos'', '' 14 de ...

. Gómez supported his subordinate, starting a battle in which General Gómez died, with Rivas in command. Lieutenant Rivas defeated the Americans and forced them to retreat. U.S. casualties were 50 soldiers killed, along with the capture of 27 prisoners, 22 horses and weapons; Mexico lost only 27 men, and 39 soldiers were wounded. In 1924, he received the Heroic Valor Award.

Later years

As commander of Military Zone XIV, he fought against the Cristeros during the

Cristero War The Cristero War ( es, Guerra Cristera), also known as the Cristero Rebellion or es, La Cristiada, label=none, italics=no , was a widespread struggle in central and western Mexico from 1 August 1926 to 21 June 1929 in response to the implementa ...

in the states of

Jalisco Jalisco (, , ; Nahuatl: Xalixco), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco ; Nahuatl: Tlahtohcayotl Xalixco), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal En ...

and San Luis Potosi; he was then promoted to brigadier general in 1938 after he fought against the rebellion of General

Saturnino Cedillo Saturnino Cedillo Martínez (November 29, 1890 in Ciudad del Maíz, San Luis Potosí - January 11, 1939 in Sierra Ventana, San Luis Potosí) was a Mexican politician who participated in the Mexican Revolution and the Cristero War. He was governor ...

. He became governor of his state and military commander of the states of

Querétaro Querétaro (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro, links=no; Otomi language, Otomi: ''Hyodi Ndämxei''), is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. I ...

, Oaxaca and

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...

. Subsequently, to retire from the army, he devoted himself to agriculture. Rivas died of drowning in Potrero de Para, San Luis Potosi, in 1947. {{DEFAULTSORT:Guillen, Genovevo Rivas 1886 births 1947 deaths Governors of San Luis Potosí Mexican generals