Figure 1.--This photo postcard was sold in the United States. It is not dated, but was probably taken about 1913-14. The hard to read caption printed lightly in the negative reads 'Gen. Blanco's Boy Fighter'. A reader comments, "The boy has enough bullets to stage another world war!" P.S.S. is presumably the photographer.

Another scion of a wealthy family was Lucio Blanco who proved to be an effective military commander, but often found himself estrained from the better known Mexican leaders. Lucio was born in Nadadores, Coahuila (1879). Coahuila is one of the northern border states with the United States. Lucio was the son of Bernardo Blanco and Maria Fuentes. His father was a prominent landowner in Coahuila. He attended a primary school in muzquiz, Coahuila and then to Saltillo, the state capital for his secondary education. He went to Texas for a short time to learn Texas. He completed his secondary school education in Monterrey. He began university studies (1899), but did not complete the program. We are not sure why, but presumably he did not apply himself. He had a fling with radical politics. He went home to oversee his parent's land in Muzquiz. The Blanco's had family connections with the Madero family. He helped organize political clubs of Madero supporters in Coahuila. As a result, he supported Madero's efforts to out Porfirio Diaz and after Herta had Madero killed, he joined the opposition to Herta. He demonstrated considerable military skills despite a lack of training and experience. His most important achievement came relatively early in the campaign against Huerta. He achieved the the first major victory of the Constitutional forces when he took Matamoros (June 1913). Matamoros is the Tamaulipas city across from Brownville, Texas. Possession of a border town meant that the Constitutional ists had aay of importing sarms and military equipment. He also was the first Revolutionary leader to begin destributing land to the peasantry (August 1913). In this case it was Coahuila land holdings of the Diaz family. He was criticized for this by Caranza. He subsequently was one of the moderate generals who wanted to defuse conflict between onstitutional factions. The result of the Convention of Aguascalientes (October 1914). He had some military sucesses, but often found himself at odds with other leaders, includingh Carrabza, Obregon, and ecven Zaoata who had befriended him. Obregon had him arrested and almost had him shot. He spent time in Texas as a political exile, but continued to be involved in Mexican politics. It is generally believed that secret agents of the Obregon Government lured him across the border into Nuevo Lasredo where they shoyt him (1922).

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Created: 5:28 AM 5/9/2011
Last updated: 5:28 AM 5/9/2011