Manuel Palafox
Encyclopedia
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
(AWL) of Emiliano Zapata
, initially to defend his home. He ascended the ranks and in 1914 became Zapata's most important advisor.
He led the negotiations with the Constitutional Army
of Venustiano Carranza
, which failed due to the obstinacy of the latter. The Zapatistas took the side of Pancho Villa
at the Aguascalientes Convention, as a result of which Eulalio Gutiérrez
was designated to be president. Palafox became minister of agriculture
in the Gutiérrez cabinet. He allowed land partitionings and ensured that land that had been seized, which had in some cases been occupied for centuries, was returned to the legitimate owners.
Palafox, as an urban
intellectual, was never popular with the Zapatistas and according to them too fond of shady intrigues. After he was dismissed as a minister in 1915, he attempted to negotiate with Carranza. Later he was the victim of a rumor about his sexuality which led to Zapata to nearly have him shot—however he instead transferred him to Tochimilco under Magana. In 1920, he took the amnesty
offered by Carranza for former Zapatistas and he was incorporated in the Mexican army as a general.
In 1932, he ran unsuccessfully for the governor of Puebla, after which he withdrew himself from public life.
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
.
Palafox studied in Puebla, his city of birth, and became an entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. In 1911, he joined the Liberation Army of the South
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....
(AWL) of 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...
, initially to defend his home. He ascended the ranks and in 1914 became Zapata's most important advisor.
He led the negotiations with the Constitutional Army
Constitutional Army
The Constitutional Army was the army that fought against Huerta's Federal Army, and later, against the Villistas and Zapatistas during the Mexican Revolution. It was formed in March 1913 by Venustiano Carranza, so-called "First-Chief" of the army, as a response to the murder of President Francisco I...
of Venustiano 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...
, which failed due to the obstinacy of the latter. The Zapatistas took the side of 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 the Aguascalientes Convention, as a result of which Eulalio Gutiérrez
Eulalio Gutiérrez
Eulalio Gutiérrez Ortiz was elected provisional president of Mexico during the Aguascalientes Convention and led the country for a few months between November 6, 1914, and January 16, 1915....
was designated to be president. Palafox became minister of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the Gutiérrez cabinet. He allowed land partitionings and ensured that land that had been seized, which had in some cases been occupied for centuries, was returned to the legitimate owners.
Palafox, as an urban
Urban culture
Urban culture is the culture of towns and cities. In the United States, Urban culture may also sometimes be used as a euphemistic reference to contemporary African American culture.- African American culture :...
intellectual, was never popular with the Zapatistas and according to them too fond of shady intrigues. After he was dismissed as a minister in 1915, he attempted to negotiate with Carranza. Later he was the victim of a rumor about his sexuality which led to Zapata to nearly have him shot—however he instead transferred him to Tochimilco under Magana. In 1920, he took the amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
offered by Carranza for former Zapatistas and he was incorporated in the Mexican army as a general.
In 1932, he ran unsuccessfully for the governor of Puebla, after which he withdrew himself from public life.