Manuel Lozada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Manuel Lozada
Nickname(s)	El Tigre de Álica, (The Tiger of Álica)
Died	Loma de los Metales, Nayarit
Rank	General
Battles/wars	Second French Intervention in Mexico

General Manuel Lozada was a powerful leader, sometimes called a caudillo, from the Tepic region of Mexico. He was born in 1828 in what is now Nayarit, Mexico. People knew him by his nickname, "The Tiger of Álica." He passed away on July 19, 1873, in Loma de los Metates, Nayarit.

During his life, Lozada was seen in many ways. Some thought he was a liberal, others a conservative, and some even an imperialist. He also supported the idea of a republic at times. Because of his changing roles, he is still a debated figure in Latin American history.

Manuel Lozada's Early Life

Manuel Lozada was of Mestizo heritage, meaning he had both European and Indigenous roots. He was also part of the Cora tribe. He was born in 1828 to Norberto Garcia and Cecilia González. Sadly, his father died when Manuel was very young.

His mother found it hard to raise him alone, so his uncle, José María Lozada, adopted him. Manuel took his uncle's last name. As a boy, he helped his uncle care for animals on their family farm. He went to the local school but could not finish elementary school. He had to start working to help his family, including his aunts, uncles, and five cousins.

Becoming a Leader

One story says that Manuel Lozada grew up working on a large farm. He was arrested more than once for personal reasons. After one release, a soldier named Simón Mireles publicly punished Lozada. This made Lozada very angry.

He joined a group of Cora natives who were unhappy with the government. Together, they found the soldier and took action against him. This event is said to be how he earned his nickname, "The Tiger of Álica." For several years, he became a strong, sometimes rebellious, figure in the Tepic area.

Another story says that not much is known about his early life. It suggests Lozada was a bandit who became important during a conflict between two companies in Tepic around 1855-1856. He stopped being a bandit when he joined forces with the powerful Rivas family in Tepic.

In 1857, he defeated government troops led by Lieutenant Colonel José María Sánchez Román. In 1859, he scattered more government forces. On November 2, 1859, he attacked the city of Tepic.

Fighting for Land and Power

In the 1860s, Lozada's followers started demanding land rights for Indigenous people. This was happening during a time when France had intervened in Mexico. Lozada decided to ally himself with the French forces between 1865 and 1866.

A French general even paid Lozada for providing 3,000 men to the Imperial Army. Maximilian I of Mexico, who was supported by the French, rewarded Lozada for his help. Maximilian created a new province called San José de Nayarit, with Tepic as its capital, and made Lozada a general. On November 12, 1864, after the French army took Mazatlán, Lozada and his troops entered the city.

As the French empire in Mexico began to weaken, Lozada changed his allegiance. In 1866, he decided to support the Mexican Republic and publicly declared his loyalty to President Benito Juárez. Juárez then separated the Tepic region from the state of Jalisco, where Lozada had many enemies. This created a special federal area.

It was helpful for Juárez to leave Lozada in charge of this region, as Juárez had many other problems to solve after the Republic was restored. Lozada encouraged villagers in the area to follow the laws of the republic and get rid of bandits. During this time, he made his control over the region even stronger, with Juárez's quiet approval.

Later Years and Legacy

After President Juárez died in 1872, his successor, Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, decided to act against Lozada. Lerdo authorized General Ramón Corona to lead a campaign against Lozada. In response, Lozada gathered an army of about 10,000 men to invade central Jalisco.

However, two of Lozada's own lieutenants betrayed him. He was captured while bathing in a mountain stream in Loma de los Metates. He was quickly executed on July 19, 1873, because special laws had been put in place for those declared bandits. Even after Lozada's death, the central government spent many years trying to fully control the Tepic region.

Manuel Lozada is seen as an important figure who started the movement for land reform in Mexico. He also indirectly helped create the state of Nayarit. There are monuments honoring him in the city of Tepic, Nayarit, and in his birthplace, San Luís de Lozada.

See also

In Spanish: Manuel Lozada para niños

Images for kids

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  General Manuel Lozada