VILLA, FRANCISCO ("Pancho") (1877-1923), Mexican revolutionary general, born al Rio Grande, state of Durango, Mexico, Oct. 4, 1877. As a youth without a home, roaming and thieving, he gathered around him a band of rough followers and changed his real name, Doroteo Arango, to that of a bandit once notorious in his region. He headed a well-organized ring of cattle rustlers operating in the northern states and this caused a price to be placed on his head by the Diaz Government. He was, there fore, very willing in 1910 to join Madero in his revolt against Diaz. Villa was captured by Gen. Victoriano Huerta during the campaign but later escaped into Texas. In 1914 he reentered Mexico to join forces with Gen. Venustiano Carranza (q.v.) against Huerta who had in the meantime overthrown Francisco Madero (q.v.) and seized the presidency. The two generals drove Huerta from the country but in the moment of triumph could not agree between themselves. Carranza refused to treat with Villa, regarding him as a mere bandit and not trusting his inten tions. Villa marched into Mexico City and Carranza fled to Vera Cruz. But Obregon (q.v.), Carranza's chief general, succeeded in driving Villa out of Mexico City and pursued him relentlessly until he took refuge in the mountains of the northern states. The
United States recognized Carranza's Government and Villa, feel ing he had been duped, developed a hatred for the "gringos" which led to his later outrages. On Mar. 9, 1916, with some 400 men he crossed the U.S. border and raided Columbus, N. Mex., killing 16 citizens and partly burning the town. The next day President Wilson ordered a force into Mexico to capture Villa and his band. It was expected that Carranza would co-operate in the pursuit of his enemy but instead he voiced his objections to the entrance of U.S. troops and on June 17th notified Gen. Pershing that further invasion would be resisted by arms. The American troops with drew without effecting their object. Villa ceased to be an inter national menace but remained under arms until the Federals in 1920 bought his retirement with the gift of a large estate. On July 20, 1923, his automobile was swept by a shower of bullets and he and his three companions were killed.