The Tragic Ten Days. The last days of Francisco I. Madero
"La Decena Tragica" was a period of ten days, which began on February 9 with a coup against President Francisco I. Madero and ended with his imprisonment on February 18, 1913. The balance of this outbreak was the murder of Madero and José María Pino Suárez.
Presidente Francisco I, Madero by Antonio GarduñoArchivo General de la Nación - México
After having led the armed movement that overthrew the regime of Porfirio Díaz, on November 6, 1911, Francisco I. Madero assumed office as president of the Republic, in which he lasted just over fifteen months.
Franciso I. Madero a lado del presidente provisional Francisco León de la BarraArchivo General de la Nación - México
Madero's government represented an important democratic advance, but it also experienced social and political conflicts that had broken out in 1910. Suffering attacks from the old regime who opposed the transformations and even promoted rebellions.
Francisco I. Madero dirigiéndose al pueblo (1911) by H. J. GutierrezArchivo General de la Nación - México
On the other hand, many revolutionaries who had joined his movement were not only seeking a change in politics or administration, but also in living conditions.
Señor Madero hablando al pueblo (1911) by H. J. GutierrezArchivo General de la Nación - México
Hence, various groups remained in arms and even proclaimed independent political plans such as Emiliano Zapata's Plan de Ayala and Pascual Orozco's Plan de la Empacadora.
Pascual Orozco y Francisco I. Madero (1912)Archivo General de la Nación - México
General Pascual Orozco and Francisco Madero Sr.
Plan de la Empacadora (1912) by Pascual OrozcoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Manifesto of General Orozco to the Nation
Madero con banda presidencial, a un costado de él se encuentra Francisco León de la Barra, y atrás el vicepresidente José María Pino Suárez.Archivo General de la Nación - México
Madero was also opposed by senators, landowners, and foreign interests, particularly from the United States. Throughout 1912, President William H. Taft, through
Madero rindiendo homenaje a la Constitución de 1857 en el Hemiciclo a JuárezArchivo General de la Nación - México
Pequeño corneta Felicista (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
In addition to the armed rebellions against him, the strikes and the conspiracies promoted by the US ambassador, the Madero government faced the uprising of Bernardo Reyes, former Minister of War and Navy and Félix Díaz, nephew of the former president, which culminated in the imprisonment of these rebels.
Caricaturas politícas en contra del presidente MaderoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Soldados Felicistas (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
With the uprising in arms of the Military School of Aspirants and the troops of the Tacubaya barracks began the so-called Tragic Ten. The troops freed Bernardo Reyes from the Santiago Tlatelolco prison and Félix Díaz, imprisoned in the Federal District Penitentiary.
Vista de Palacio Nacional (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
The contingents led by Reyes and Díaz attempted to take the National Palace.
Patio principal de Palacio Nacional (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
There was the first confrontation in which the rebels were defeated, with the death of Reyes as the most serious balance.
El senado y los generales vencedores en el interior de la Ciudadela (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
This forced them to retreat and take shelter in the Citadel.
Soldados con cañón tirando por un boquete en la Ciudadela (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
From that event, the inhabitants of Mexico City lived the clashes between the rebels and the troops loyal to the Madero government.
Grupo de soldados leales a Madero (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
The first fighting left hundreds dead, the vast majority civilians.
Madero la mañana del día 9 de febrero de 1913 en su trayecto de Chapultepec al Palacio Nacional (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
Madero marched from Chapultepec to the National Palace to organize its defense, called several military units and the forces of Felipe Ángeles who were in Cuernavaca.
Artilleros del gobierno (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Soldados viendo al tiro (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Escenas de la Decena Trágica (1913) by Compañia Luz y Fuerza del CentroArchivo General de la Nación - México
Victoriano Huerta assumed military command of the capital after General Lauro Villar was wounded in the first skirmish.
Escenas de la Decena Trágica (1913) by Compañia Luz y Fuerza del CentroArchivo General de la Nación - México
Escenas de la Decena Trágica (1913) by Compañia Luz y Fuerza del CentroArchivo General de la Nación - México
Defensa de de la Carcel de Belem (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
However, Huerta, instead of quelling the uprising, joined it, which favored the triumph of the coup.
Escena en la plaza de Santiago (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Gustavo Madero, Pino Suárez y Malvaes (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
On February 18, several events determined the course of the process: Gustavo A. Madero, brother of the president, was arrested and in the early hours of February 19 he was cruelly murdered in the Citadel.
Gustavo A. Madero (1911) by H. J. GutierrezArchivo General de la Nación - México
Gustavo A. Madero
Casa de Madero, incendiada durante la Decena Trágica (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
President Madero and Vice President Pino Suárez were apprehended in the National Palace and, finally, the Pact of the Citadel was signed, which stated that "the Executive Power that functioned is considered nonexistent and unknown."
El presidente y vicepresidente de la republica presentaron su renuncia (1913) by El ImparcialArchivo General de la Nación - México
Madero and Pino Suárez signed their resignations on February 19. Congress named Pedro Lascuráin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as president, but he immediately resigned, so Victoriano Huerta, newly appointed Minister of the Interior, became provisional president. With these the armed struggle in the capital ceased, but it was reactivated throughout the territory to establish constitutional order.
La Ciudadela después de combate (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
On February 20, Madero and Pino Suárez were detained at the National Palace accompanied by Cuban Ambassador Manuel Márquez Sterling in order to prevent them from being killed and being able to take a train to the port of Veracruz that would ship them into exile in Cuba.
Generales, Mondragón y Díaz calculando sus tiros (1913) by E. MelhadoArchivo General de la Nación - México
Two days later, at some point, Félix Díaz, Manuel Mondragón, Aureliano Blanquet and Victoriano Huerta agreed to get rid of Madero and Pino Suárez. On the night of February 22, the prisoners were transferred to the Federal District Penitentiary.
Exterior de la Penitenciaria del Distrito Federal, sitio en que victimaron a Madero y Pino Suárez (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
Upon arrival, Francisco Cárdenas murdered Madero; Pino Suárez tried to flee, but was wounded and finished off by Rafael Pimienta.
Lugar donde cayeron los cadáveres del ex presidente Madero y el ex vicepresidente Pino Suárez (1913) by H. J. GutierrezArchivo General de la Nación - México
The official version stated that the escort that led to Madero and Pino Suárez had been assaulted by Maderista forces, an assembly that had been carried out with shots at the cars that transported them. Numerous newspapers repeated this version of events.
Traslado del cuerpo de Madero al panteón Frances (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
Victoriano Huerta (1913)Archivo General de la Nación - México
Victoriano Huerta settled in the National Palace on February 20, 1913. On October 10, 1913, he dissolved Congress, accentuating the dictatorial character of the government. During this regime, life was militarized and many citizens were killed.
Los generales Venustiano Carranza y Álvaro Obregón (1915) by Enrique Díaz, García y Delgado and Retrato del encuentro entre los generales Venustiano Carranza y Álvaro Obregón.Archivo General de la Nación - México
The triumph was not final. In the north, resistance was immediate from Venustiano Carranza. In the south, the peasants, led by Emiliano Zapata, did not recognize the regime and prepared to confront it. A new chapter was opening in the armed struggle.
Documentary Collections:
📃 AGN, México Contemporáneo, Colecciones, Colección Revolución, caja 2, exp. 28, foja 4. (Bóveda de Seguridad).
📃 AGN, Hemeroteca Ignacio Cubas, El Imparcial, Diario Independiente, 20 de febrero de 1913.
📷 AGN, México Contemporáneo, Colecciones, Colección INEHRM, caja 7.3, exp. 886/2.
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Propiedad Artística y literaria, Varios, Revolución,
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Propiedad Artística y Literaria, Melhado E., Decena Trágica.
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Propiedad Artística y Literaria, Melhado E., Decena Trágica.
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Propiedad Artística y Literaria, Gutiérrez H. J., Revolución.
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Propiedad Artística y Literaria, Waite Charles B, Decena Trágica.
📷 AGN, Archivos Fotográficos, Colección fotográfica de la presidencia de la república, Francisco I. Madero, exp. 134/366.
📷 AGN, Compañía de Luz y Fuerza del Centro, serie álbumes fotográficos, caja 199, exp. 1.
