Francisco “Pancho” Villa

The Robin Hood of Mexico, also known as “The Centaur of the North”, was a bandit who later became the famous rebel fighter who advocated for the poor. A leader of the Mexican Revolution, which ended the reign of oppressive dictator Porfirio Díaz and led to the creation of a new democratic government in Mexico.

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“My sole ambition is to rid Mexico of the class that has oppressed her and give the people a chance to know what real liberty means. If I could bring that about by giving up my life, I would do it gladly.”

 

Who was Pancho Villa?

At the age of 16 he murdered the man that raped his sister which led him to flee into the mountains. He donned two bandoliers of ammunition, grabbed firearms aplenty, and rode out to right the wrongs that had kept the average citizens of Mexico down for so long. And so, the story of The Centaur Of The North started to unfold.

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Pancho Villa is considered the most widely known Mexican throughout the world. He was famous during the Revolution and has remained so, holding a mythical reputation in Mexican consciousness. Today, museums, monuments and historical sites are dedicated to the life and times of the Mexican Revolutionary, Francisco "Pancho" Villa.

Museums & Sites

  • "Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something."

    Pancho Villa’s last words

  • "I am not an educated man. I never had an opportunity to learn anything except how to fight."

    Pancho Villa on the importance of education

  • "My sole ambition is to rid Mexico of the class that has oppressed her and given the people a chance to know what real liberty means. And if I could bring that about today by giving up my life, I would do it gladly."

    Pancho Villa on the revolution

  • “I, Pancho Villa, was a loyal man that destiny brought into the world to fight for the good of the poor and that I will never betray nor forget my duty.”

    Pancho Villa on duty and loyalty

  • “My sword has belonged to, belongs to, and will belong to the people.”

    Pancho Villa on duty and loyalty

  • “Here in this place, I swear I will fight to the end for these ideals.”

    Pancho Villa on duty and loyalty

  • “It would be magnificent, I think, to help make Mexico a happy place. “

    Pancho Villa on the revolutionary cause

  • “I’m neither Catholic, nor Protestant, nor atheist. I’m a freethinker.”

    Pancho Villa on religion

  • “In this age there are many ambitious politicians, and none of them do my people good.”

    Pancho Villa on politics

  • “I have made the students and teachers happy in Canutillo: the children, by providing them with everything they need for their education; the teachers, by respecting them as I respect them and paying them on time."

    Pancho Villa on education

  • "I prefer to first pay a teacher, and then a general.”

    Pancho Villa on education

  • “It’s time for prejudice to end.”

    Pancho Villa on equal opportunity

  • “I have the duty to inform you that Pancho Villa is everywhere and nowhere at the same time.”

    Pancho Villa on strategy

  • “Humble people like me fight for justice and for better luck.”

    Pancho Villa on the revolutionary cause

  • “I am not an educated man. I never had an opportunity to learn anything except how to fight.”

    Pancho Villa on politics and revolution

  • “The country must be governed by someone who really loves his people and his land, who shares wealth and progress. I have all that, only that I am ignorant.”

    Pancho Villa on politics and the revolution

  • “Soldier of the people and leader of my soldiers, sincere and disinterested servant of my country and my people, loyal to the death to my chiefs and my comrades. The highest feeling of patriotism guides all my acts, as a sincere patriot and ideal comrade. These are the only titles I claim, because they belong to me, because I have known how to conquer them, at the price of my blood and my constant efforts”.

    Pancho Villa on the revolution

  • “It is just that we all aspire to be more, but also that we all make use of our actions.”

    Pancho Villa on the revolution

  • “Men will not forget that Pancho Villa was loyal to the cause of the people.”

    Pancho Villa on duty and loyalty

  • “I understand that the war is made by us, the ignorant men.”

    Pancho Villa on the importance of education

  • “When I was governor of Chihuahua, nearly 50 schools were built in the first month of my administration. I did not go to one, but I knew the importance of education to get ahead.”

    Pancho Villa on Education

  • “A priest is a businessman like any other.”

    Pancho Villa on religion

  • “The education of the children of my people is something that must not go unnoticed by the rulers and the citizens. The educational problem has never been given its necessary attention…”

    Pancho Villa on education

  • “I have walked among millions of ounces of gold, and I swear to you, I have never stolen anything… If I had done so, like many, Francisco Villa would have been a disgrace to his people!….”

    Pancho Villa on duty and loyalty

  • “Armies are the greatest supports of tyranny. There can be no dictator without an army.”

    Pancho Villa on strategy

  • “Alcohol kills the poor and education saves them.”

    Pancho Villa on equal opportunity

  • “I am a fighter, not a statesman.”

    Pancho Villa on politics

  • “When the new republic is established, there will be no more army in Mexico.”

    Pancho Villa on the revolution

  • “It is the Revolution, the magical word, the word that is going to hang everything, that is going to bring us immense delight and a quick death.”

    Pancho Villa on revolution

  • “You, sir, have destroyed the revolution. It’s simple: this bunch of dandies have made a fool of you, and this will eventually cost us our necks, yours included.”

    Pancho Villa to Francisco I Madero

  • “Companions of arms and lords. Do not believe that the one who is going to speak to them is a philosopher, I am a man of people, but you will understand that these men when they speak, speak with the heart.”

    Pancho Villa on politics

  • “What would be of the world if we were all generals if we were all capitalists or we were all poor?”

    Pancho Villa on equal opportunity

  • “[Politicians] spend their time discussing nonsense and stealing money that belongs to the people.”

    Pancho Villa on politics

  • “You Americans don’t take off your hats when you come to my headquarters, do you?”

    Pancho Villa to General Pershing

Virtual Museum of Pancho Villa

 
 

“A space that will narrate the life of Pancho Villa, from childhood to outlaw, then to revolutionary leader.”

Coming soon

Articles.

  • Pancho Villa's Army is much more than the world's greatest soccer fan group...

    The most hardcore soccer fans in the world may just be the closest family in sports. Much more than a support group, Pancho Villa’s Army is a collective of fans who bring people together.

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  • Now Streaming: "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" on HBOmax

    Lights...Camera...Revolution! Antonio Banderas stars in this incredible true story of Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary who starred in Hollywood's first action epic.

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  • Did you know that Indiana Jones rode with Pancho Villa?

    On George Lucas’ film series, “The Adventures of young Indiana Jones”, after being stirred by Pancho Villa's words, Indy joins his cause and rides with the Villistas as General Pershing chases them throughout the desert of Mexico.

    Read more

  • "In Full Color", a gallery of the Mexican Revolution.

    This collection of colorized photos by Marco Zozaya brings history to life like never before. Through artificial intelligence, young Marco restored and published over 30 photographs in order to commemorate Mexico’s Revolution.

    Gallery
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