PIPILA

[John F. Schwaller]

Pipila with an accent on the first syllable, was the name (nom de guerre)
of the hero of the siege of Guanajuato during the War of Independence.
According to the Porrua Historical dictionary his real name was Juan Jose
Martinez.  He was born in San Miguel de Allende in 1782.  A miner, he
joined the Hidalgo forces early on.  On Sept. 28, 1810 he led the attack on
the Alondiga in Guanajuato.  Carrying a burning torch, with a large wooden
plank over his back, he put fire to the main door of the warehouse, thus
allowing the insurgents to gain entry and attack the defending Spanish
forces within.

There is nothing to assume that his nickname was a Nahuatl name.  The
accent on the first syllable would also be curious for Nahuatl.

J. F. Schwaller


John Frederick Schwaller                             schwallr at selway.umt.edu
Associate Provost                                        406-243-4722
The University of Montana                           FAX 406-243-5937
                          http://www.umt.edu/history/NAHUATL/