Pablo González Garza

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For the American mixed martial arts fighter, see Pablo Garza (fighter).
In this
Spanish name, the first or paternal surname
is González and the second or maternal family name is Garza.
Pablo González Garza
General
Commands heldNortheastern Corps (1913–14)
Battles/warsMexican Revolution

Pablo González Garza (May 5, 1879 – March 4, 1950) was a general during the Mexican Revolution.[1] He is considered to be the main organizer of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata.[2][3]

Early life

Born in

Military Academy in Chapultepec but decided not finish his studies. In the early years of the twentieth century he worked in a foundry, on the railroad and for an oil company, in various places in northern Mexico and the southern United States.[1]

Early part of Mexican Revolution

In 1907, through his cousin, he met the anarchist

coup d'état against Madero, González fought against Huerta and Orozco in Coahuila. While at the time González was considered a rising military star, Orozco beat him in every encounter, which contributed to González eventually becoming known as "the general who never won a victory".[5] This ill reputation followed him in subsequent years.[5] In a later interview with Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Carranza stated that "General González commanded the largest forces in the Revolution and he came out of it with the unique honor of having lost every battle in which he was engaged".[6]

Under Carranza

Pablo González in 1914

Later on he was appointed chief of the Army of the Northeast in the government of Venustiano Carranza and in 1914 occupied Monterrey, Tampico and other places for him.[7] González's occupation of Monterrey, along with the Battle of Zacatecas, was crucial in Huerta's defeat and subsequent decision to go into exile.[1] At the same time, Álvaro Obregón was appointed to lead the Army of the Northwest, which was a position equivalent to that of González. Since Obregón viewed González as an incompetent general, this contributed to his resentment of Carranza which bore fruit later.[8]

Against the Zapatistas

He was also in charge of pacification of the Zapatista rebellion in

forced labor.[9] To combat González, Zapata provided arms to individual villages, even those not directly under his control, so they could form effective self-defense units. This policy eventually backfired on Zapata since after González left, villagers used the weapons against Zapatista foraging parties, which in turn led to numerous conflicts between the peasants and rebels.[10]

González was mostly successful in suppressing the rebellion in Morelos for a time, due to help from a turncoat Zapatista general, Sidronio Camacho (who had killed Zapata's brother, Eufemio Zapata), who provided him with crucial intelligence. After another revolt in Coahuila, led by Lucio Blanco, González was recalled. Zapata then reclaimed his home state.[11]

Assassination of Zapata

He was the mastermind behind the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, which was carried out by his Colonel,

guard of honor presented arms to him, but on the third signal of the bugle they opened up fire at point blank range, killing Zapata.[2]

Break with Carranza

In the election of 1920, President Carranza promoted the civilian Ignacio Bonillas as his successor, to the great displeasure of his generals, particularly Álvaro Obregón, who wanted the presidency for himself. After Carranza attempted to arrest him, Obregón led a military revolt.

Initially González remained loyal to Carranza. However, most officers in his army supported Obregón, and his ally,

Plutarco Calles
and vehemently opposed Bonillas. As a result Gonzalez declared his own candidacy for the presidency.

In April 1919, Carranza demanded that González drop his election bid and give his full support to Bonillas. On April 30, González officially broke with Carranza, although instead of arresting him and immediately occupying Mexico City (most of the troops in the region supported him), he allowed Carranza to escape to

Texcoco.[12]

During the interim presidency of Adolfo de la Huerta, González was accused of treason and sedition and arrested. He was initially sentenced to be executed, but was pardoned and instead went into exile in the US.[13]

Later life

After Obregón's victory over Carranza and then presidency, González returned to Mexico. He retired from active duty and politics and went into business. He was left almost destitute by the collapse of his bank, and died in 1950 in the city of Monterrey.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Rutas de la Revolucion (Routes of Revolution), Ruta de Pablo González, (last accessed on Feb 1, 2010), [1] Archived 2020-01-21 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c d e Enrique Krauze, "Mexico: biography of power : a history of modern Mexico, 1810-1996", HarperCollins, 1998, pg. 302, [2]
  3. ^ John Womack, Jr., "Zapata and the Mexican Revolution", Vintage Books, 1970, pg. 322-3
  4. ^ John Womack, Jr., "Zapata and the Mexican Revolution", Vintage Books, 1970, pg. 258
  5. ^ a b Frank McLynn, "Villa and Zapata", Basic Books, 2000, pg. 138
  6. ^ "Pablo Gonzalez Garza, Instrumental in Emilano Zapata's murder"
  7. ^ Robert L. Scheina, "Latin America's Wars: The age of the professional soldier, 1900-2001", Brassey's, 2003, pg. 23, [3]
  8. ^ Frank McLynn, "Villa and Zapata", Basic Books, 2000, pg. 179
  9. ^ Samuel Brunk, "Emiliano Zapata: revolution & betrayal in Mexico", UNM Press, 1995, pg. 190, [4]
  10. ^ Frank McLynn, "Villa and Zapata", Basic Books, 2000, pg. 350
  11. ^ Frank McLynn, "Villa and Zapata", Basic Books, 2000, pg. 355
  12. ^ René De La Pedraja Tomán, "Wars of Latin America, 1899-1941", McFarland, 2006, pg. 271, [5]
  13. ^ Frank McLynn, "Villa and Zapata", Basic Books, 2000, pg. 387
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