El Pípila

El Pípila is the nickname given to Juan José de los Reyes Martínez Amaro, a heroic miner from San Miguel el Grande (now San Miguel de Allende), Guanajuato, who played a key role in the early stages of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.

Martínez Amaro, known as El Pípila (the etymology is uncertain, with theories ranging from a reference to a turkey chick to a skin condition), is most famous for his act of bravery during the Siege of Guanajuato. The rebel forces, led by Miguel Hidalgo, were struggling to capture the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, a fortified granary where royalist troops and loyalist civilians had taken refuge. The Alhóndiga's heavy wooden doors proved impenetrable.

El Pípila volunteered to approach the Alhóndiga and set the doors on fire, allowing the insurgents to storm the building. He carried a large, flat stone slab on his back to protect himself from the bullets of the defenders. Successfully reaching the doors, he doused them with pine resin and set them ablaze, creating a breach that enabled the rebels to overwhelm the royalist forces.

El Pípila's act is considered a pivotal moment in the siege and a symbol of the courage and determination of the Mexican insurgents. He is widely celebrated as a national hero, and monuments dedicated to his memory stand in Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. The exact circumstances of his death are debated, with some accounts stating he died shortly after his heroic act, while others claim he survived the war. Regardless, his legacy as a symbol of Mexican independence remains strong.