Francisco “Pancho” Villa

Francisco “Pancho” Villa was a major revolutionary leader from northern Mexico. He commanded the División del Norte and became one of the most famous military figures of the Mexican Revolution.

Villa is remembered as a charismatic and controversial leader who represented northern revolutionary forces and popular anger against dictatorship and inequality. For citizenship learners, he is important because the Revolution had multiple regional leaders, and Villa was one of its most powerful and recognizable figures.

Pancho Villa was assassinated on July 20, 1923, in Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua. Pancho Villa was born José Doroteo Arango Arámbula.