Nonetheless, Guadalajara was not completely cut out of the action. Arguably the most notable revolutionary event in these parts occurred on July 8, 1914, a date immortalized by street names and one that will be remembered formally by city fathers next week.
It was on Tuesday, July 8, 1914 that General Alvaro Obregon marched triumphantly into Guadalajara after the Constitutionalist Army had defeated federalist troops loyal to the regime of Victoriano Huerta, the harsh military dictator who had staged a coup d’état in February 1913 (with help from misguided U.S. ambassador Henry Lane), usurping President Francisco Madero, the prime instigator of the revolution.The battle took place in and around the Orendain (of tequila fame) estate (hacienda) to the northeast of Guadalajara. Two months earlier Obregon had begun his march south from the Constitutionalist stronghold of Sonora. He needed to move quickly to ensure that the wayward Francisco Villa, leader of the northern rebels also opposing Huerta, did not reach Mexico City before him and embed his troops in the capital. That was the major fear that haunted Venustiano Carranza, the governor of Coahuila and head of the Constitutionalist Army.
In May 1914, Obregon blockaded the port of Mazatlan and cut off off the railroad from Guadalajara to Colima, leaving both cities isolated.
On July 6, 9,000 of Obregon’s troops faced off against 8,000 federal soldiers encamped outside Guadalajara under the command of General Miguel Bernard. Two days of fierce fighting left 2,000 dead and 5,000 federalist troops as prisoners. The rest of Huerta’s soldiers either deserted or fled. After Obregon marched triumphantly into Guadalajara on June 8, Carranza promoted him to major general, urging him to quickly finish his task.
The defeat outside Guadalajara effectively terminated Huerta’s regime. The despot – now disowned by the United States – finally bowed to pressure and resigned the presidency on July 15, almost exactly one month before Obregon entered Mexico City, to be followed by Carranza four days later.
The city’s commemoration of the “Toma de Guadalajara” (Taking of Guadalajara) on Tuesday, July 8 will include a guard of honor at the statue of Manuel Dieguez, who accompanied Obregon in the famous battle. The Guadalajara city council will hold a “solemn session” while the mayor will unveil a wall tribute commemorating the battle in the council chamber. Two other plaques will be dedicated during the day: at the intersection of Ocho de Julio and Avenida Juarez, and in the Parque del Carmen, facing the Ex Convento del Carmen cultural center. A conference devoted to this key battle of the Mexican Revolution is scheduled at the Museo de las Artes.
This weekend, Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6, events will be held to commemorate this historical date. The Municipal Band will perform a special concert, an exhibition showing weapons and objects from the period will open and a military parade will be held, running from the Parque Revolucion to La Normal traffic circle.