Who was Tomás Urbina and what did he do?
Tomás Urbina Reyes was a soldier of Rarámuri descent who participated in the Mexican Revolution. The reason why he is remembered is because, in addition to being quite brave, he became very close to Pancho Villa.
Urbina was born in Congregation de Nieves, Durango on August 18, 1870 (some sources indicate that he was born in 1877) and died in Durango in 1915. His mother was Mrs. Urbina Reyes Refugefrom whom he took both surnames, since there is no record of his father.
Throughout his youth Urbina worked in various jobs to earn a living. Among them were being a farm laborer, adobero and brick maker; being a contractor in the manufacture of adobes and even went so far as to rustle, that is, to steal livestock. The latter was especially carried out in winter, when employment was scarce.
Urbina married Juana Lucero in 1896 (little is known about what happened to this alliance, since in 1911 Urbina married Francisca Ávila). Some years after, In 1903, he met who would become his closest friend, but also his executioner: Pancho Villa. Tomás Urbina allied himself with Villa to steal cattle.
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Thanks to the fact that Urbina also shared the fed-up with the injustices of the Porfirio Díaz government, he supported the armed uprising of Francisco I. Madero in Durango and Chihuahua.
Later he enlisted with Pancho Villa. Due to his closeness with Villa and his good performance in battle, Urbina was general of the Northern Division and later recognized as a colonel.
Fate and death of Tomás Urbina
There are two versions about the murder of Tomas Urbina. The first is that, having been fighting for years, Urbina ended up tired and decided to retire from the war and return to his town so he could be with his family and live in peace.. However, this was done without Villa’s approval, so Villa ordered Rodolfo Fierro to order Urbina as a deserter.
The second version says that in 1915 Urbina was accused of betraying the army of the Northern Division. for receiving money to allow himself to be defeated in the Battle of Ebano by the opponents of Villismo: Pablo González and Jacinto B. Treviño.
After being bribed, Urbina fled to his town to retire. However, Pancho Villa along with his and Rodolfo Fierro’s army gave him access to confront him. When the Villistas arrived, Urbina was in the middle of a big party, so he started a terrible shootout.
When everything calmed down, Pancho Villa locked himself in with Urbina, who was injured, to demand explanations. Urbina tried to use friendship to get Villa to spare his life and almost succeeded if it weren’t for Rodolfo Fierro pressuring Villa to kill him..
This is how Urbina tried to flee by car with Martín López, but Rodolfo Fierro caught up with them and when Urbina begged for his life, Fierro killed him.
The treasure of Tomás Urbina
It is said that throughout his adventures, fights and looting, Colonel Tomás Urbina accumulated great wealth.. Therefore, when he returned to his town in Nieves, Durango, he was received like a king who returns victorious.
His family and acquaintances organized a great party for him with plenty of food and drink. While everyone celebrated, Urbina promised to retire from arms and dedicate himself to working his land and the pending matters of the hacienda.
That same day he chose to dig a hole in the land of his farm and hide there the valuable objects and wealth that he had accumulated throughout his years of struggle..
However, Urbina could not enjoy the tranquility much, because, a few days later, Pancho Villa arrived along with Rodolfo Fierro and they murdered him.
It is said that neither the Villistas nor the locals found the treasure of Tomás Urbina, so that incredible wealth remains hidden in Nieves, Durango..
Stephanie Cisneros Lover of literature, photography and discovering the treasures of Mexico.