Zaragoza station
Metro · 1 Line 1
Neighbouring stations
- 1Line 1Gómez Farías Zaragoza Pantitlán
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The story behind the icon
The station icon represents the figure of General Ignacio Zaragoza, who was born on 24 March 1829 in the Bay of Espíritu Santo, Texas.
In 1853 he joined the regular army and, when the Plan of Ayutla was proclaimed, he took up arms in support of it. In 1855 Zaragoza defeated Santa Anna's troops.
When the constitutional government of Benito Juárez was restored, Zaragoza was named Minister of War; but the country's financial situation worsened and Juárez decreed a moratorium, whereupon Spain, France and England formed a tripartite alliance and arrived with their armed forces at the port of Veracruz.
France made its intention to invade plain, since it sought to extend its dominions in America. The Army of the East was organised which, unlike the French, lacked everything except courage. 600 indigenous fighters joined it, making 7,000 men to fight not only the invaders but also the conservatives who had joined the Europeans in the hope of fulfilling their dream of an imperial government ruled by a prince.
At dawn on 5 May 1862 Zaragoza told his men: "Our enemies are the first citizens of the world, but you are the first sons of Mexico, and they mean to take your homeland from you." The fight remained undecided and the day was running out, so Zaragoza decided to engage.
He is regarded as a "Hero of Liberty" and a leading figure of the battle of Puebla, receiving at the National Palace a medal in the name of the Nation. He died of typhoid on 8 September 1862.