Juan Cortina

Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, also known by his nicknames Cheno Cortina, the Red Robber of the Rio Grande and the Rio Grande Robin Hood, was a Mexican rancher, politician, military leader, outlaw and folk hero. He was an important caudillo, military general and regional leader, who effectively controlled the Mexican state of Tamaulipas as governor. In borderlands history he is known for leading a paramilitary mounted Mexican Militia in the Cortina Wars. The "Wars" were retaliation for the stealing of his family's estate and the mistreatment of fellow Mexicans. Anglo families began immigrating to the Lower Rio Grande Valley after the Mexican Army was defeated by the Anglo rebels of the Mexican State of Tejas, in the Texas Revolution. They began mistreating Mexican locals, stealing land, and lynching them.