Victorio

Victorio (Bidu-ya, Beduiat) (c.1825 - 1880) was a warrior and chief of the Chihenne Apaches. He was born in New Mexico and grew up in the Chihenne band (also known as Eastern Chiricahua). There have been persistent rumors that Victorio was part Mexican, but there is no actual evidence to support this claim.

In his twenties he began to ride with Geronimo and other Apache leaders. Eventually, he formed a band of a few hundred Chiricahuas and Mescaleros and fought against the U.S. Army. He was eventually pacified and lived the reservation life until he was compelled to move to the deplorable conditions of the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona. He and his followers left the reservation around 1877 and began marauding, raiding, and evading capture by the military.

In 1880 while seeking refuge in northern Mexico Victorio and his band were surrounded and killed by soldiers of the Mexican army at Tres Castillos. Only some women and children escaped with their lives. Victorio's sister was the famous woman warrior Lozen ("Dextrous Horse Thief").

The character of Sierra Charriba in Sam Peckinpah's film Major Dundee (1965), played by Michael Pate, was based off of Victorio.

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