Gildardo Magaña Cerda (March 7, 1891 – December 13, 1939) was a Mexican general, politician and revolutionary.
Born on March 7, 1891 in
Zamora,
Michoacán to a Liberal trading family, Magaña was sent to study economics in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. Back in Mexico he was involved in the
anti-reelectionist movement and had to flee to the insurrectionist
Zapatista country people in
Morelos in 1911. He was immediately made use of as emissary to various revolutionaries in different parts of Mexico, among others to
Pancho Villa
Francisco "Pancho" Villa (, Orozco rebelled in March 1912, both for Madero's continuing failure to enact land reform and because he felt insufficiently rewarded for his role in bringing the new president to power. At the request of Madero's c ...
whom he is reported to have taught reading. In 1916 he was appointed chief of staff to
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar (; August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a Mexican revolutionary. 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 ins ...
, because he was the only one who was able to make unruly sub-commanders of the movement cooperate instead of quarrel, using his personal charm as well as his outstanding diplomatic skill for the task.
When Zapata was killed in 1919, Magaña was elected his successor with 18 votes against 11 for
Jesús Capistrán. As commander-in-chief of the Zapatist army, he made it his supreme business to achieve a durable peace. To that purpose he cultivated various possible allies, in vain until
Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón Salido (; 17 February 1880 – 17 July 1928) better known as Álvaro Obregón was a Sonoran-born general in the Mexican Revolution. A pragmatic centrist, natural soldier, and able politician, he became the 46th President of Me ...
revolted in 1920. Magaña immediately declared his and his movement's support and provided Obregón with the army with which he conquered Mexico D.F. In return, the movement got the Ministry of Agriculture and its desired agrarian reform made law.
Under Obregón's and his successors' presidencies, Magaña held several high military commands but also found time to found the Confederación Nacional Agraria, the Cardenist peasants’ union. In 1936 he was elected governor of his native state of Michoacán, a post he held until his death (by a heart attack) in 1939. Shortly before his death he was suggested as a candidate for
Lázaro Cárdenas's successor as president but declined.
National Army
In November 1919, due to the international conflict with the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
caused by the kidnapping of Consul Jenkins,Magaña and other southern chiefs accepted the amnesty 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 Februa ...
's government, thinking of putting himself in defense of the nation that was threatened by a North American invasion.In January 1920 he took up arms again, probably at the suggestion of
Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón Salido (; 17 February 1880 – 17 July 1928) better known as Álvaro Obregón was a Sonoran-born general in the Mexican Revolution. A pragmatic centrist, natural soldier, and able politician, he became the 46th President of Me ...
and shortly after it joined the
Plan of Agua Prieta
The Plan of Agua Prieta (Spanish: ''Plan de Agua Prieta)'' was a manifesto, or plan, that articulated the reasons for rebellion against the government of Venustiano Carranza. Three revolutionary generals from Sonora, Álvaro Obregón, Plutarco E ...
. Upon his victory, the Liberation Army of the South was merged into the Mexican Army through two divisions. Magaña obtained the rank of Divisionario and became the commander of the Second Division of the South. Genovevo de la O became the first. He also intervened as a mediator to get the surrender of Francisco Villa, which was achieved on June 28, 1920.
Literature
* John Womack: Zapata and the Mexican revolution, Vintage 1968.
See also
*
Huautla, Morelos
*
List of people from Morelos, Mexico
The following are people who were born, raised, or who gained significant prominence for living in the Mexican state of Morelos:
''This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by exp ...
*
List of governors of dependent territories in the 20th century
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Magana, Gildardo
1891 births
1939 deaths
People from Zamora, Michoacán
Politicians from Michoacán
Military personnel from Michoacán
Mexican revolutionaries
Mexican generals
Mexican rebels
Mexican Secretaries of the Interior
People of the Mexican Revolution
Governors of Baja California
Governors of Michoacán
20th-century Mexican politicians
20th-century Mexican military personnel