General Máximo Castillo aligned with Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata photos are courtesy of Edgar Castro-Zapata.
General Emiliano Zapata was a visionary leader during the Mexican Revolution. He staunchly opposed the hacienda system that dominated rural Mexican life. Thanks in part to his unwavering efforts, the Mexican constitution came to embody the ideals of fundamental land reform. General Máximo Castillo's journey intertwined with Zapata's vision, as he carried forth the torch of land reform and stood as a steadfast ally in their shared mission.
Castillo, greatly inspired by Zapata's ideas, embarked on a transformative journey after touring the states of Morelos and Guerrero in June 1911. During this enlightening trip, Castillo, accompanied by President Francisco Madero, was privileged to witness Zapata's successful perspectives on land reform.
On April 24, 1913, Castillo corresponded with the esteemed Zapata, issuing a manifesto that firmly aligned his revolutionary cause with Zapata's principles, particularly the historic Plan of Ayala. This manifesto was pivotal in rallying support for Zapata, uniting various smaller rebellions under the common banner of land reform.
Castillo's dedication was further demonstrated when he extended an invitation to all factions in Chihuahua, including the iconic Francisco "Pancho" Villa, to unite with Zapata's forces and work collectively on implementing land redistributions in northern Mexico, mirroring Zapata's achievements in the southern regions.
In June 1913, Castillo took bold steps by implementing agrarian reform on several haciendas owned by Luis Terrazas. The photograph above immortalizes Castillo, proudly riding a horse marked with the Terrazas' brand.
In her 1948 book, "Pancho Villa En La Intimidad," Luz Corral de Villa devoted an entire chapter to Castillo, aptly titled "In the hands of the enemy - Máximo Castillo." In her writings, Luz hailed Castillo as the sole true Zapatista in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Castillo's own words echoed his unyielding commitment to the cause. "I don't believe in anything other than the distribution of land among the people, as Madero promised us," he told El Paso Morning Times. "I'm not a socialist; I don't know anything about that. I'm one of the few independent ranchers left in the state of Chihuahua."
"I have a small ranch in San Nicolás de Carretas that belonged to my father and my father's father before him."
He expressed his unwavering resolve not to stand idly by as his comrades were victimized by Porfirio Díaz's unjust agrarian law, which saw their homes seized, they were stripped naked in the streets by federal soldiers, and their meager plots added to Terrazas' vast haciendas. Castillo's resolute commitment to land reform, in the spirit of Zapata, cemented his legacy as a significant figure in the Mexican Revolution.