Otilio Montaño Sánchez
Encyclopedia
Otilio Montaño Sánchez was a Zapatista
general during the Mexican Revolution
.
Otilio Montaño was born in Morelos to Esteban Montaño and Guadalupe Sánchez in 1887. After finishing his studies in Cuautla
he taught in schools in Tepalcingo
, Jonacatepec
and finally Ayala. In Yautepec he became acquainted with Emiliano Zapata
's cousin, Amador Salazar
. In 1910 he supported Francisco Madero in his struggle against Porfirio Díaz
and eventually joined Felipe Neri
and Amador Salazar in forming the Zapatista
agrarian movement in Morelos. Because Montaño had some schooling and had worked as a school teacher, he was considered by the peasants of Morelos, who comprised the majority of Zapatista soldiers, as an "intellectual".
After Zapata broke with Madero, Otilio Montaño remained in Morelos and in November 1911, together with Emiliano, co-authored the famous Plan of Ayala
. Zapata dictated the text of the proclamation while Otilio wrote it down and proofread it.
Subsequent to Victoriano Huerta
's coup against Madero, Montaño fought against Huerta and eventually became a member of the Zapatista ruling military junta
, which was presided over by Emiliano Zapata and also included Eufemio Zapata
, Genovevo de la O
, Felipe Neri, Amador Salazar
, and Manuel Palafox
(who acted as the secretary).
In December 1914, Montaño accompanied Zapata to the first meeting with Pancho Villa
at Xochimilco
where he gave the welcoming speech and introduced the two jefes to each other.
In early 1917 Montaño came into conflict with some of the other Zapatista generals. As a result, he was sent to the town of Buenavista de Cuellar. Soon however, an anti-Zapata, pro-Carranza
, revolt broke out in the town and Montaño was put in charge of suppressing it. Even though he had the leader of the rebellion hanged, he was accused of actually heading the rebellion. Although he vigorously denied the charges, influential Zapatistas including Manuel Palafox and Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
argued strongly that he was in fact guilty. Zapata left the matter to his advisors. A "Revolutionary Tribunal
" was formed and Palafox and Soto presented evidence which was for the most part circumstantial
. Montaño in turn accused the two of having betrayed the Zapatista revolution. After being found guilty, Montaño was denied last rites
and had a sign hang around his neck which stated "So die all traitors to the fatherland". Palafox refused to let him die facing the firing squad, a customary courtesy usually granted to the condemned who requested it. On May 18, 1917, he was executed, proclaiming his innocence to the end.
Liberation Army of the South
The Liberation Army of the South was an armed group formed and led by Emiliano Zapata that took part in the Mexican Revolution. The force was commonly known as the Zapatistas....
general during the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
.
Otilio Montaño was born in Morelos to Esteban Montaño and Guadalupe Sánchez in 1887. After finishing his studies in Cuautla
Cuautla, Morelos
Cuautla , officially La heroica e histórica Cuautla de Morelos, or H. H. Cuautla de Morelos, is a city and municipality in the Mexican state of Morelos. In the 2005 census the city population was 145,482 and the municipality population was 160,285. The municipality covers 153.651 km²...
he taught in schools in Tepalcingo
Tepalcingo
Tepalcingo is a town in the Mexican state of Morelos. It at .The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality, with which it shares a name.The municipality reported 24,133 inhabitants in the year 2000 census.-External links:...
, Jonacatepec
Jonacatepec
Jonacatepec is a city in the Mexican state of Morelos.It stands at .The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name.The municipality reported 13 623 inhabitants in the year 2000 census....
and finally Ayala. In Yautepec he became acquainted with Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in 1910, and which was initially directed against the president Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South, during the Mexican Revolution...
's cousin, Amador Salazar
Amador Salazar
Amador Salazar Jiménez was a Mexican military leader who participated in the Mexican Revolution.-Early life:He was born in Cuernavaca, Morelos on April 30, 1868, as the son of León Salazar and Gertrudes Jiménez...
. In 1910 he supported Francisco Madero in his struggle against Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
and eventually joined Felipe Neri
Felipe Neri
Felipe Neri was a soldier and general in the Mexican Revolution.-Early life:...
and Amador Salazar in forming the Zapatista
Liberation Army of the South
The Liberation Army of the South was an armed group formed and led by Emiliano Zapata that took part in the Mexican Revolution. The force was commonly known as the Zapatistas....
agrarian movement in Morelos. Because Montaño had some schooling and had worked as a school teacher, he was considered by the peasants of Morelos, who comprised the majority of Zapatista soldiers, as an "intellectual".
After Zapata broke with Madero, Otilio Montaño remained in Morelos and in November 1911, together with Emiliano, co-authored the famous Plan of Ayala
Plan of Ayala
The Plan of Ayala was a document drafted by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. In it, Zapata denounced President Francisco I. Madero for his perceived betrayal of the revolutionary ideals, embodied in Madero's Plan de San Luis, and set out his vision of land reform...
. Zapata dictated the text of the proclamation while Otilio wrote it down and proofread it.
Subsequent to Victoriano Huerta
Victoriano Huerta
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez was a Mexican military officer and president of Mexico. Huerta's supporters were known as Huertistas during the Mexican Revolution...
's coup against Madero, Montaño fought against Huerta and eventually became a member of the Zapatista ruling military junta
Military junta
A junta or military junta is a government led by a committee of military leaders. The term derives from the Spanish language junta meaning committee, specifically a board of directors...
, which was presided over by Emiliano Zapata and also included Eufemio Zapata
Eufemio Zapata
Eufemio Zapata Zalazar was the brother of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. He was known as a womanizer, a macho man, and a very heavy drinker....
, Genovevo de la O
Genovevo de la O
Genovevo de la O was an important figure in the Mexican Revolution.He was born in Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Morelos, to sharecropper parents. He was dedicated to the plight of Mexico's peasants and came to be an outstanding Liberation Army of the South guerrilla general...
, Felipe Neri, Amador Salazar
Amador Salazar
Amador Salazar Jiménez was a Mexican military leader who participated in the Mexican Revolution.-Early life:He was born in Cuernavaca, Morelos on April 30, 1868, as the son of León Salazar and Gertrudes Jiménez...
, and Manuel Palafox
Manuel Palafox
Manuel Palafox was a Mexican politician, soldier and intellectual.Palafox studied in Puebla, his city of birth, and became an entrepreneur. In 1911, he joined the Liberation Army of the South of Emiliano Zapata, initially to defend his home...
(who acted as the secretary).
In December 1914, Montaño accompanied Zapata to the first meeting with Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
at Xochimilco
Xochimilco
Xochimilco is one of the sixteen delegaciones or boroughs within Mexican Federal District. The borough is centered on the formerly independent city of Xochimilco, which was established on what was the southern shore of Lake Xochimilco in the pre-Hispanic period...
where he gave the welcoming speech and introduced the two jefes to each other.
In early 1917 Montaño came into conflict with some of the other Zapatista generals. As a result, he was sent to the town of Buenavista de Cuellar. Soon however, an anti-Zapata, pro-Carranza
Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza de la Garza, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He ultimately became President of Mexico following the overthrow of the dictatorial Huerta regime in the summer of 1914 and during his administration the current constitution of Mexico was drafted...
, revolt broke out in the town and Montaño was put in charge of suppressing it. Even though he had the leader of the rebellion hanged, he was accused of actually heading the rebellion. Although he vigorously denied the charges, influential Zapatistas including Manuel Palafox and Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama
Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama was a revolutionary during the Mexican Revolution and Mexican politician.His parents were Conrad Diaz Soto y Gama and Dona Concepcion Cruz...
argued strongly that he was in fact guilty. Zapata left the matter to his advisors. A "Revolutionary Tribunal
Revolutionary Tribunal
The Revolutionary Tribunal was a court which was instituted in Paris by the Convention during the French Revolution for the trial of political offenders, and eventually became one of the most powerful engines of the Reign of Terror....
" was formed and Palafox and Soto presented evidence which was for the most part circumstantial
Circumstantial evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence in which an inference is required to connect it to a conclusion of fact, like a fingerprint at the scene of a crime...
. Montaño in turn accused the two of having betrayed the Zapatista revolution. After being found guilty, Montaño was denied last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
and had a sign hang around his neck which stated "So die all traitors to the fatherland". Palafox refused to let him die facing the firing squad, a customary courtesy usually granted to the condemned who requested it. On May 18, 1917, he was executed, proclaiming his innocence to the end.