Zapata in 1914 (not Marlon Brando!)
Constantly fighting for his beliefs in land reform (redistribution of hacienda earth to the country's peasants) since civil war in Mexico breaks out in 1910, Zapata decides to beef up his command by enlisting the help of a turncoat and his troops when Colonel Pablo Guajardo, recently jailed by General Gonzalez for being drunk on duty, offers to join up with the revolutionary (bringing along his force of 800 men). Sadly for Zapata though, it is all a ruse put together by Gonzalez (enhanced by Guajardo's command pretending to attack the Federal garrison at Jonacatepec on April 9th) to have the bandit let his guard down.
Zapata, Pancho Villa, and their troops ride into Mexico City - 1914
Convinced that Guajardo is sincere after the colonel executes a number of arrested Zapata defectors (the gift of two beautiful riding horses helps too), Zapata accepts an invitation to meet for a planning session and meal with his most recent recruit at the Hacienda de San Juan near the town of Chinameca. It is the perfect spot for an ambush.
Zapata in death
Arriving at the hacienda with a bodyguard of only ten soldiers, a smiling Zapata is greeted by Guajardo's armed troops arrayed in a military salute formation to honor their new ally ... and as an added bit of deceit, a band plays the "Honor March." Duped completely, as Zapata enters the courtyard of the hacienda the order is given to present arms, but instead of firing a salute into the sky, Guajardo's honor guard all unload their weapons into the bandit leader's chest (beware Anwar Sadat!). Swiss cheesed into eternity, Zapata is only 39 when he becomes the legendary Mexican icon he remains to this day.
Admirers saying goodbye
For his betrayal, the thirty pieces of silver that Guajardo receives for Zapata's murder consists of a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and a cash bounty of fifty thousand pesos.
Zapata!
