Emiliano Zapata Salazar (August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz that broke out in 1910. He is considered to be one of the outstanding national heroes of Mexico; the Zapatistas, a revolutionary movement based in the state of Chiapas, take their name from him. Towns, streets, and housing developments called "Emiliano Zapata" are common across the country and he has, at times, been depicted on Mexican banknotes. There are controversies on the portrayal of Emiliano Zapata and his followers, on whether they were bandits or revolutionaries. Many Mexican Presidents, including Porfirio Diaz and Venustiano Carranza, identified Zapata as a womanizer, barbarian, terrorist, and bandit. Conservative media nicknamed Zapata ‘The Attila of the South’. To many Mexicans, specifically the peasant and indigenous citizens, Zapata was a practical revolutionary who sought the implementation of liberties and agrarian rights outlined in the Plan de Ayala. He was a realist with the goal of achieving political and economic emancipation of the peasants in Southern Mexico, and leading them out of severe poverty.

Zapata has in the last few decades been recast as a quasi-religious icon as well, mostly within indigenous or Zapatista communities, where he is called "Votán Zapata." Votán (Wotán in modern Mayan spelling) is a Mayan god, who with his twin brother Ik'al was said to have descended from the mountains to teach the people to defend themselves. A part of Our Word is Our Weapon is dedicated to Votán Zapata.

Early life and local politics

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Zapata was born to Gabriel Zapata and Cleofas Salazar in the small central state of Morelos, in the village of Anenecuilco (modern-day Ayala municipality). At the time Mexico was ruled by a dictatorship under Porfirio Díaz, who had seized power in 1876.

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