Emiliano Zapata: Mexico's Top Revolutionary Leader teleSUR
go to original April 10, 2016

Emiliano Zapata, who was murdered April 10, 1919, was one of the top four most powerful persons of the Mexican Revolution that cost a million lives. (Wikipedia)

Emiliano Zapata was an idealist who was born in Morelos, central Mexico, on 8 August of 1879 to a campesino family that owned their own land and had large plantations. He was instrumental in bringing down the corrupt and violent dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, but on April 10, 1919, he was betrayed by Venustiano Carranza, then president and very ambitious politician who felt Zapata's popularity and influence would raise him to power.

He fought in favor of campesinos and Indigenous and their right to land, saying that agricultural properties belong to those who worked them. He defended the vulnerable campesinos from greedy land grabbers who enslaved the original owners of land.

• After various attempts on his life, Zapata began sending a double to public events.

• Zapata is believed to have had nine wives, 16 children and 42 grandsons. Other historians say he had 15 wives throughout his live.

• The revolutionary leader could speak Nahuatl.

• There are many movies and documentaries about Zapata including “Zapata Lives,” starred by Marlon Brando. He also inspired at least 147 songs.

• His most famous phrases are: “Those who want to be Eagles must fly, and those who want to be worms must drag themselves in the dirt, but do not scream when you're stepped on.” And, “It's better to die standing up, than live all your live kneeling down.”

• His remains are in Cuautla, Morelos.

WATCH: Zapata's Funeral



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