Cristero War

The Cristero War (in Spanish: Guerra Cristera or La Cristiada; ) is an Mexican conflict that occurred from 3 August 1926 to 21 June 1929, especially in the central and western parts of Mexico. The internal conflict had its background in the implementation of the Calles Law, which restricted the power of the Catholic Church and also the increaed enforcement of Articles 3, 5, 24, 27 and 130 of Constitution of 1917.


The rural population of central Mexico supported the Church and opposed the anticlerical laws. The conflict also involved US Ambassador Dwight Morrow breaking relations with the government of Mexican President Plutarco Calles. In 1929, the conflict ended by an agreement between the Mexican government and Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz y Flóres, which ended the Church's support for the Cristero rebels and caused them to disintegrate.

The most important battles of the war occurred in the Mexican states of Zacatecas, Colima, Guanajuato, and Jalisco.

 Take of Huejuquilla el Alto
 Take of Valparaíso
 Battle of Santiago Bayacora
 Battle of Cerrito Verde
 Battle of Cerro del Capulín
 Battle of Cerro de las Papas
 Battle of Tepatitlán
 Battle of El Fresnal
 Manzanillo Assault
 Battle of Piedra Imán
 Battle of Caucentla
 Battle of Los Rubios
 Battle of Tenaxcamilpa
 Battle of Nogueras
 Battle of Borbollón
 Battle of Mezquitic
 Battle of San Julián
 Battle of Cuquío Take of Juchitlán
 First Take of Cocula
 Take of Colima
 Second Take of Cocula
 Encarnación de Díaz Massacre
 Take of Colotlán
 Amatlán de Cañas Battle
 Battle of Etzatlán
 San Marcos Battle (1927)
 Battle of Guachinango
 Mascota Battle
 Ixtlán del Río Battle
 Take of Compostela
 Tepatitlán Crisis
 Battle of Atotonilco el Alto
 Villa de Guadalupe Battle
 Cerro El Fresquial Battle
 Sahuayo, Jiquilpan and Cotija Battles
 Aereal attack of Torreón

 References 

 Cristeros (Soldiers of Christ) – Documentary 
 The Cristero Rebellion, by Jim Tuck 
 AP article on the 2000 canonizations
 Biography of Miguel Pro 
 Spanish article on the war
 Spanish biographies of the saints canonized in 2000
 Ferreira, Cornelia R. Blessed José Luis Sánchez del Rio: Cristero Boy Martyr, biography (2006 Canisius Books).
 Iniquis Afflictisque – encyclical of Pope Pius XI on the persecution of the Church in Mexico (November 18, 1926)
 Miss Mexico wears dress depicting Cristeros at the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant
 Catholicism.org: "Valor and Betrayal – The Historical Background and Story of the Cristeros" – article by Gary Potter.

Category:1920s conflicts
Category:20th century in Mexico