Victoriano Ramírez

At the age of 20, Ramírez decided to head north to the United States in order to make more money. He probably arrived sometime in 1908, and he sent money and letters back to his parents in Jalisco.[4] After a year and a half, Ramírez returned home. Shortly after, his mother, ill and weakened by her age and the absence of her son, died, predeceasing her husband and leaving behind her five grown children.[5]

According to legend, when Ramírez escaped from a prison in San Miguel el Alto, Jalisco, where he was waiting for a murder trial after quarrel, a detachment of fourteen armed men went to look for him at a hill. Forced to fight against his pursuers, the fugitive hid among the crags of a ravine and after a long firefight killed all his opponents.[6][7] When Ramírez was sure of his victory, he took the field and picked up the fourteen arms of his victims and sent them to the mayor of San Miguel with a message, advising him "not to send such few people." For this, Ramírez earned the name "El Catorce" (The Fourteen).[8]

A set of clothing and a rifle, all of which belonged to Ramírez, on display in a museum in Encarnación de Diaz.

Ramírez was among the first to join the Cristero rebellion. He was one of the few Cristeros who did not desert the fight in May of 1927. He commanded the "Fourteen Dragons" squadron, which was part of the San Julian regiment under the command of General Miguel Hernández. Ramírez's first acts as a Cristero were spoken of as legendary feats, and tradition states that when "Callistas" (federal troops) heard the cry of "Viva El Catorce!", it struck fear in their hearts during fighting. Additionally, Ramírez also had a reputation for superb accuracy.[6]

On March 15, 1927, the Battle of San Julián began, and "El Catorce" had to resist a day of federal charges by General Espiridión Rodriguez before Hernández arrived the next day to support him. Eventually, the battle resulted in a Cristero victory, and the federal army suffered their worst defeat in the entire war.[9]

The difficulties that arose between Ramírez and his companions seemingly began with organizational reforms that General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde deemed necessary to establish between contingent Cristeros. Ramírez, 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. Ramírez did not obey these orders, and as he was liked by the people of San Miguel el Alto, his armed escorts were increased. Father Aristeo Pedroza invited him to refocus on the Cristero struggle, but Ramírez refused. These refusals antagonized other Cristero leaders, and Father Aristeo Pedroza, Father Heriberto Navarrete, and Mario Valdes eventually pursued Ramírez with 300 men. By then, Ramírez was fortified at the top of El Carretero, along with 100 colleagues.[8]

San Miguel el Alto, the town where Ramírez is buried.

Ramírez was eventually arrested and accused of embezzlement, insubordination, and resistance to higher orders.[8] For these accusations, 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 Ramírez's death are uncertain. One source states that, in order to avoid a popular uproar of the locals in Tepatitlan, Valdes had Ramírez stabbed to death discreetly.[6] 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 the 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.[10]

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.[11]