Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl
Encyclopedia
Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl (May 1, 1804 – September 13, 1847) was a General in the Mexican Army
under president Antonio López de Santa Anna
.
Xicoténcatl was born in the town of San Bernandino Contla in the state of Tlaxcala
. He joined the army in 1829 as a Lieutenant
. In 1843 he became Lieutenant Colonel
. During the Mexican-American War Lt. Colonel Xicoténcatl led the San Blas Battalion
. It is said that Lt. Col. Xicoténcatl in the battle of Chapultepec
, refusing the idea of letting the American forces capture the Mexican flag identifying his battalion and severely wounded, wrapped himself with the flag and died beside his men.
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
under president Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón , often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna, known as "the Napoleon of the West," was a Mexican political leader, general, and president who greatly influenced early Mexican and Spanish politics and government...
.
Xicoténcatl was born in the town of San Bernandino Contla in the state of Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala is one of the 31 states which along with the Federal District comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipalities and its capital city is Tlaxcala....
. He joined the army in 1829 as a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
. In 1843 he became Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. During the Mexican-American War Lt. Colonel Xicoténcatl led the San Blas Battalion
Batallón de San Blas
The San Blas Battalion was a Mexican infantry unit founded in 1823 in San Blas, Nayarit. Under the name Batallón Activo Guardacostas de San Blas , it saw action on several occasions culminating in the Mexican-American War. The battalion participated in the Battle of Chapultepec, where commanded by Lt...
. It is said that Lt. Col. Xicoténcatl in the battle of Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
, refusing the idea of letting the American forces capture the Mexican flag identifying his battalion and severely wounded, wrapped himself with the flag and died beside his men.