page_title: Victoriano Ramírez
section_title: Downfall
hierarchical_section_title: Victoriano Ramírez / Cristero War / Downfall
caption_attribution_description: Español: SMA
context_page_description: Victoriano Ramírez López, also known as "El Catorce", was a Mexican General of the Cristero War known for his excellent combat skills.
context_section_description: The difficulties that arose between Ramirez and his companions began, it seems, with organizational reforms that General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde deemed necessary to establish between contingent Cristeros. Ramirez, perhaps feeling that his authority was being undermined, put a number of obstacles to the proposed new organization. In view of his attitude, he was relieved of his duties, and was banned from having armed men, except for a small escort. Ramirez did not obey these orders, and as he was liked by the people of San Miguel el Alto, they increased his armed escorts. Father Aristeo Pedroza invited him to refocus on the Cristero struggle but Victoriano refused. These refusals antagonized other Cristero leaders, and Aristeo Pedroza, Heriberto Navarrete, and Mario Valdes, eventually pursued Ramirez with 300 men. By then, Ramirez was fortified at the top of El Carretero, along with 100 colleagues.
  Death and burial
  Ramirez was eventually arrested and accused of embezzlement, insubordination and resistance to higher orders. For these accusations, Father Aristeo Pedroza ordered his execution, and to avoid commotions amongst the Cristeros, as El Catorce was highly esteemed, it was resolved immediately to fulfill the sentence. The details surrounding Ramirez's death are uncertain. One source states that, in order to avoid a popular uproar of the locals in Tepatitlan, Valdes had Ramirez stabbed to death in a discrete manner. Another source states that at the time of his execution, he barricaded himself in his cell, so they had to break down the door with a battering ram to lead him to the place of execution. However, he jumped out with intentions of snatching a rifle of the nearest man, but was mortally wounded by a bullet to the chest.
  His remains rest in the Guadalupana catacombs, under the Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the city of San Miguel el Alto.
caption: San Miguel el Alto, the town where Ramirez is buried.
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