Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution. He is best known for his role as the commander of the Liberation Army of the South. Born on August 8, 1879, in Anenecuilco, Morelos, Zapata championed agrarian rights and the redistribution of land to indigenous farmers. In 1911, he drafted the Plan de Ayala, which called for significant land reforms and denounced President Francisco Madero. Zapata's forces captured Cuernavaca in 1914, solidifying his influence in southern Mexico. His dedication to social justice and land rights led to the eventual establishment of ejidos, communal land holdings, in the Mexican Constitution of 1917. Zapata was assassinated on April 10, 1919, in Chinameca, Morelos.