Victoriano Ramírez Victoriano Ramírez López ( born c . late 1880s , San Miguel el Alto — March 17 , 1929 , Tepatitlan ) , also known as El Catorce ( The Fourteen ) , was a Mexican general of the Cristero War . Early life . Legend holds that once , when he escaped from a prison in San Miguel el Alto , Jalisco , where he was waiting for a murder trial in quarrel , a detachment of fourteen armed men went to look for him over a hill . Forced to fight against his pursuers , the fugitive hid among the crags of a canyon and after a long firefight killed all his opponents . When he was sure of his victory , he took the field and picked up the fourteen arms of his victims and sent them to the head of San Miguel with a message , recommending " Not to send such few people " , earning him the name " El Catorce " or " The Fourteen " . The Cristero war . Victoriano Ramirez " El Catorce " , was among the first to join the Cristero rebellion . He was one of the few Cristeros who did not flee in May 1927 . He commanded the " Fourteen Dragons " squadron , which was part of the San Julian regiment , under General Miguel Hernandez . In his first actions as a Cristero legendary feats were spoken of , and a version ran between Callistas that struck fear in their hearts during fighting when they heard the cry of " Viva El Catorce ! " . He also had a reputation for superb accuracy . It is also said that he was very fond of women . El Catorce was hard to tell if he was married , but easy to figure out the ranches in which you find his women . A discussion held between El Catorce and Father Heriberto Navarrete , is said that the priest was struck by his behavior and asked him the name of his legitimate wife , to which he replied : " Any woman is legitimate " . On March 15 , 1927 the Battle of San Julian begun , where El Catorce resisted a day of federal charges by General Espiridión Rodriguez , the next day General Miguel Hernandez arrived to support El Catorce . The federal army suffered their worst defeat in the whole armed conflict . Death . A Cristero song summarizes his death : He was shot by his own comrades . The difficulties that arose between El Catorce and his companions began , it seems , with organizational reforms that General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde deemed necessary to establish between contingent Cristeros . El Catorce ( perhaps feeling undermined his authority ) , 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 . El Catorce did not obey orders , and as he was liked by the people of San Miguel el Alto they increased his armed escorts . Father Pedroza invited him to refocus on the Cristero struggle but Victoriano refused . Aristeo Pedroza , Heriberto Navarrete , and Mario Valdes , together pursued him with 300 men . By then , El Catorce was fortified at the top of El Carretero , along with 100 colleagues . Finally , he was subjected , and was accused of embezzlement , insubordination and resistance to higher orders . For these accusations Father Aristeo Pedroza ordered his execution , and to avoid disturbances between the Cristeros , as El Catorce was highly esteemed , it was resolved immediately to fulfill the sentence . 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 . Consequences . At his death the Mexican Army General Saturnino Cedillo said , " El Catorce was killed by his own comrades , idiots ! They don ' t realize what they did . They cut the head of the snake , and left the tail to me " . The death of El Catorce generated confrontations between General Miguel Hernandez and General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde and a strong rejection of the people . Popular culture . El Catorce was portrayed by actor Oscar Isaac in the film Cristiada ( also titled For Greater Glory ) , an epic historical drama also starring Andy Garcia , Eva Longoria , Eduardo Verástegui and Peter O ' Toole . In the film El Catorce meets a much more heroic end .