José Reyes Vega
José Reyes Vega was a Mexican priest who participated in the Cristero War as a general. He was one of the most popular generals during the war and was known as "Father Vega".
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 José Reyes Vega with horse [1] |
On April 19, 1927, an event took place that almost succeeded in extinguishing the revolution. He led a raid against a train in La Barca, Jalisco, said to be carrying a shipment of money. In a shootout that followed with the army escort, Vega's younger brother was killed. Maddened with grief, he had the wooden cars doused with gasoline, and 51 civilian passengers were burned alive. An atypical priest, Vega was known as a drinker and womanizer as well as well for his murderous behaviour. After one engagement, he had federal prisoners stabbed to death to save ammunition. The atrocity helped to turn public opinion against the Cristeros.
The Cristeros mounted an attack on Guadalajara in late March. Though it failed, the rebels won a smashing victory at the Battle of Tepatitlán against Saturnino Cedillo, in the heart of Los Altos, on April 19. Vega, who designed the plan that won the victory, was killed in the engagement.[2]
See also
References
- Eynaud, Marc (2016-02-12). "Prêtre au Mexique, un sacerdoce dangereux". Radio Notre-Dame (fr) (in French). Archived from the original on 2016-05-07. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
- Tuck, Jim (2020-06-08). "Cristero Rebellion: part 2 - the combat phase". MexConnect. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
External links
- Moreno, Consuelo (2020-07-08). "The Movement that Sinned Twice: The Cristero War and Mexican Collective Memory". History in the Making. California State University, San Bernardino Alpha Delta Nu Chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society. 13 (1). Retrieved 24 June 2021. PDF
- Tuck, Jim. de la Cova, Antonio Rafael (ed.). "The Anti-Clerical Who Led a Catholic Rebellion". latinamericanstudies.org. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25.
- http://www.ansac.az.gov/UserFiles/PDF/05082014/X007_DocsJGBrady/VerdeX007.pdf
- https://www.kofc.org/en/resources/college-programs/10559-for-greater-glory-study-guide.pdf
- https://carmelcommunications.com/saints-and-sinners-in-the-cristero-war/
- "1927 Mexican train massacre..." RareNewspapers.com. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
THE NEW YORK TIMES, April 21, 1927
- Los Cristeros y Los Bragados
- Fodor's See It Mexico. Fodor's Travel Publications. 2012-09-04. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-89141-929-7.
- Bailey, David C. (2013-04-10). Viva Cristo Rey!: The Cristero Rebellion and the Church-State Conflict in Mexico. University of Texas Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-292-75634-2.