Porfirio Diaz: Mexico’s Gentleman Dictator

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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M.
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Other Biographics Videos:
Croesus: All the Money in the World
• Croesus: All the Money...
Robert Hanssen: The FBI Mole who Spied for the KGB
• Robert Hanssen: The FB...
Source/Further reading:
Source/Further reading:
Excellent podcast on Mexico pre-Porfiriato, and during the same (multiple parts): www.revolution...
www.revolution...
Podcast reading the Creelman interview, includes a (very biased) look at Diaz’s life: podcasts.googl...
Britannica’s biography: www.britannica...
ThoughtCo Bio: www.thoughtco....
Diaz’s resignation in-depth: www.historytod...
1915 NYT report on Diaz’s death: www.nytimes.co...
Library of Congress materials on Diaz: www.loc.gov/ex...
Biographics on Maximilian I: • Maximilian I: The Aust...
Biographics on Emiliano Zapata:
Mexican American War (1846-48): www.history.co...
The Reform War (1858-61): www.globalsecu...
French Intervention in Mexico: history.state....
A walk-through of Mexican history: www.britannica...
The Cientificos: www.britannica...

[@Biographics]

The first 500 people who click the link in the description will get 2 free months of Skillshare Premium: skl.sh/biographics7

[@olddogmaster6643]

Just an idea for a future r biographics Christian X of Denmark A king hated early in life but loved at the end of his life.

[@Derrick1996]

People you should think about doing video on 1) Thomas Sankara 2) Patrice Lumumba 3) Sylvanus Olympio 4) Henry Christophe 5) Maurice Bishop

[@shanedebarros7479]

How about a piece on Antonio Salazar or Jean-Paul Marat

[@shanedebarros7479]

How about a piece on Antonio Salazar or Jean-Paul Marat

[@shanedebarros7479]

How about a piece on Antonio Salazar or Jean-Paul Marat?

[@oslo6472]

As a Mexican, calling "Gentleman Dictator" is a hit in the nail, since he was, he was an old-styled dictator, in comparison to the "new wave" of military uniforms.

[@DeepThinker_6597]

But he did sport military uniforms basically all the time

[@DogeickBateman]

@osoriomorales9714 The account by Channing Arnold on Diaz's character in 1900 is one of the most interesting pictures of a man who did the impossible: Keep Mexico orderly

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

​@osoriomorales9714 And he set in motion a series of events that led to a 10 year revolution... All because he keeps breaking his promise not to run for president again...

[@chaoscapricorn13]

Dictator just recently took a bad meaning

[@franciscovila550]

Porfirio Diaz fought more than forty battles and lost only one: Icamole´s Battle, for which is known as the ¨Weepy of Icamole¨, but the most extraordinary feat of Porfirio Diaz is that among the huge progress of the country, he left no debt; instead, he left 63 million gold pesos in the mexican treasury, making him unique.

[@jackmcnally9237]

Correct!

[@JosePineda-cy6om]

Yep. The guy had his moments of corruption and nepotism, but he was almost an exemplar model of virtue and righteousness compared with 99% of the PRI presidents that followed

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

Heck Mexico could’ve done better under the American union flag 🇺🇸. The all Mexico movement could’ve been successful had they allow autonomy of the Mexican people, languages, and culture. Actions dictate things. Regardless of tongue.

[@RicardoJoseReza]

@@elperrodelautumo7511 ¿¿¿¿???? Sorry, but have you thought out what you wrote? Mexico under the U.S flag, or Mexico under the French flag or Spanish flag. Mexico is an independent nation, no matter what. I would not like to live in a reservation. Thank you

[@antoniobatista884]

No se les olvide que fue un genocida que casi desaparece al pueblo Yaqui.

[@Tom_Skelton]

When I was in Mexico City, my tour guide said if you want to watch two Mexicans argue, just bring up Porfirio Diaz.

[@abelreyna8781]

"Perro con hueso ni ladra ni muerde" -Porfirio Diaz That's how he kept power for so long. This is how every government keeps power come to think of it. Not pretty but effective.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

?

[@darthdrake3095]

@@forcedtohaveahandle "A dog with a bone does not bark or bite"

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Darth Drake gracias

[@marcyhoang]

Give a dog a bone. He won't bark or bite.

[@AnaGamer19]

Al pueblo pan y circo.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Santa Anna going in and out of power was even more confusing than the UK trying to decide if they were pro or anti Brexit...

[@generalthotslayer4623]

Simple bro, it’s like in the United States, the cities are often liberal, in England’s case, anti brexit. Liberals are dependent on government intervention while the countryside is often conservative, or in this case pro brexit. Conservatives can go about their everyday life without ever needing to call on the government, while cities require government agencies to function. This leads to the cultural divide between the two, city goers often depict the country side as unintelligent and backwards people despite cities being the place where illiteracy, crime, and poverty strive. It’s quite interesting and toxic. Countryside people in Scotland, Wales and England didn’t like an unelected official in Belgium telling them when and where they could fish. Those unelected official’s rules resulted in fundamental parts of their life and work to suffer because they weren’t taken into consideration essentially.

[@danielevans5286]

General Thotslayer The cities produce the money and are richer with higher living standards and services. Statistically the rural areas need our help, but all you do is moan about it when you get it.

[@angelsaidferreira5193]

@@danielevans5286 U just don’t like racism

[@trollpolice]

England was pro brexit, scotland, ireland wales are pro eu

[@abrahamrodriguez3239]

im mexican and remember the times of progress of the porfiriato makes me sad, the words of the general Don Porfirio Diaz was very rigth "Madero has unleashed a tiger, now let us see if he can control it." And until this times, nobody can control the tiger yet

[@crazypato3752]

Who is the Tiger

[@sebastianprimomija8375]

@@crazypato3752 Mexico

[@Pancasilaist8752]

​@@sebastianprimomija8375 no,it's mexican revolution.

[@terushinomiya]

"Madero has unleashed a tiger, now let us see if he can control it." He was right.

[@ElYeyuno]

Diaz did a lot to make future chaos happen. And it did....

[@robroux6074]

Diaz was the one who created the issues. He enslaved the Yaqui and Mayans..he didn't think there would be political backlash. It's kinda like PRIAN saying.. Obrador has unleashed a tiger, now let us see if Obrador can control it... well el Gasolinaso and Gentrificatioin was created by you PRIAN.. so...

[@alfredobecerra2878]

Powerful quote

[@OBS.Rey__]

Justinian the Great like how the US licks laws enforcement boots

[@Ngl310]

@@robroux6074 Obrador is a complete demagogue. All the promises that he made during his 10+ year campaign were useless. He said he was going to combat crime and murder with a "peaceful" approach yet that has been failing tremendously. He said the Gross Domestic Product was going grow at a rate of at least 3% yet during his first year it only grew 0.1%, worse than with EPN. He also said that he was going to end with corruption yet EPN, Salinas, and Bartlett are still free. As a matter of fact... Manuel Bartlett, who was in the PRI for DECADES and who participated in the 1988 election fraud, is in Obrador's cabinet... Obrador will go down in history as a president who promised everything but accomplished nothing.

[@theconqueringram5295]

Porfirio Diaz's rule was definitely a turning point for Mexico.

[@trifulquita15]

No. This señorito was the old system. The 19 century barbaric warrior

[@robroux5059]

Turning point was Lazaro

[@victoriateague9012]

And they are still in the gutter.🙄🙄

[@kamehouseboxing7142]

Mexico has a million turning points it sucks for the majority of ordinary people

[@jamier65551]

A turning point downward.

[@ethanramos4441]

“It was better that a little blood should be shed that much blood should be saved. The blood that was shed was bad blood; the blood that was saved was good blood” -Porfirio Diaz

[@goxdie000]

Only a psychopath would say that

[@elemperadordemexico]

@@goxdie000 more like pragmatic realist

[@ElYeyuno]

@Rios Salvajes ....Yup. Nobody knew what happened with those huge fortunes. Most Mexicans only knew about the misery Diaz helped create.

[@ArturoBIturbide]

@@goxdie000 More like something that Macchiavello would say.

[@goxdie000]

@@ArturoBIturbide that doesn't make it any better

[@nitroustommy3668]

"Make Mexico great again." Diaz 2024

[@MrJuvefrank]

You write like Díaz is still alive. Maybe you'll believe he's dead if you see the body.

[@trollpolice]

When was mx great?

[@elpacho....9254]

@@trollpolice always.

[@elpacho....9254]

Build the wall, and keep the gringos out. Make the United States pay for it.

[@edmundotzompa3733]

Great video. I like that you and your channel have interest for Mexico, I appreciate so much that you give a non "american official history" being truly neutral in your analysis. Great Job. Saludos desde México !!!

[@Krypto-pz7el]

Porfirio Diaz: ”Pobre México! Tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos.” “Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States”

[@jmchez]

The perfect quote for whiners. When Mexico became independent it was so much bigger that the USA, with so much more history and wealth. The Europeans expected it to become the great power of the Americas. Instead, well, the mess described in the video happened and they lost any chance at been a world power.

[@jmchez]

@@alerojas2952 Your opinion, but I have not stated any false facts in my posting. Did you watch Whistler's video?

[@kreshnik13]

@@jmchez do you realise Mexico(1821) became independent almost 50 years later than USA(1776), when the mexican-american war( 1846 -1848) started, USA was a more stable country than Mexico because of that reason.

[@alerojas2952]

@@jmchez again, it is not my opinion but a fact. You are MENTAL.

[@jmchez]

@@kreshnik13 Sure, but had the Mexican leadership from, Iturbide to Santa Ana and onward, had strived for stability instead of personal power, they could have lived up to the promise of all the resources that they had. It is because of Washington's refusal to be crowned king or to serve more than two terms as President that many say that his example (based on the Roman general Cincinatus) is the best thing that happened to the early United States.

[@kurtborkman9472]

These mexican history videos are so fascinating. As an American, we really don't learn this stuff in schools, about how how bad it was south of border during this time period.

[@exhaustedcoffee2603]

Well Texan history is vastly wrong, it’s the history of hero’s and independence in a story poorly told.

[@denissediaz3640]

I love how much effort you put into pronouncing these words correctly. Thank you for putting so much care into it. It makes such a difference

[@jmchez]

Since, you've done the biography of, Maximilian I, as the second emperor of Mexico, why not do a biography of Agustín de Iturbide, the first emperor. The fact that he was the George Washington of Mexico (except for that power grabbing thing), makes his life really interesting. Well, that and getting shot by General Santa Ana. So much for being the George Washington of anything.

[@seanbrazell6147]

@Rafael Gonzalez And Washington had a vital, decisive advantage in the form of France. (an amusing irony given his role in the French Indian war back before he was wearing British red rather than American blue!)

[@jmchez]

@Rafael Gonzalez You make a very good point that applies to almost all revolutions but one. Whether it's the French Revolution or The Russian or The Cuban and on and on, they all devolve into a bloodbath between siblings/compatriots because the differences are so extreme and no one has any place to go. The previous government is still there, also, unless it's toppled. As you say, a major reason why the American War of Independence was an exception to the bloody settling of accounts was because of the safety valves the population had. Loyalist could move to the Canadian provinces and the hated government was thousands of miles away. That was not the case during the American Civil War. There the political differences were insurmountable and the bloodletting and devastation was immense. Had the South prevailed, we would be calling the Civil War something like, "The Confederate Revolution".

[@anon2427]

Rafael Gonzalez the loyalists didn’t all leave to Canada, there were many who stayed in the US throughout the war for independence and after. United States was created because of the split between the pro monarchy loyalists, tax collectors, and parliament and citizens of the eastern colonies. That’s the whole reason the US was created in the first place😂

[@anon2427]

Rafael Gonzalez in fact many in the American colonies wanted to join back with Britain after gaining representation

[@jmchez]

@Rios Salvajes Well, the more to have a Simon Whistler biography video to better understand all of that.

[@rodrigonogueiramota4433]

Diaz: I´m a gentlemen dictator Stalin: in Soviet Union there´s no such thing as Dictator. there´s me and everybody else who is not me and who will go to Sibéria, including gentlemen

[@dddc2]

which is how stalin controlled power until his death unlike other dictators who get fucked by america, or get overthrown because they werent as brutal as stalin

[@therealalexi9312]

@@dddc2 that doesnt make sense? The U.S rarely "fucked dictators" in fact they have an odd habit of creating dictators. And what does the. U.S have to do with stalin? What was the U.S gonna do? Invade Russia?

[@blackvillain4479]

@@dddc2 yeah and the fact that successfully invading Russia is nigh impossible.

[@theoutlook55]

Muchísimas gracias por haber hecho un video acerca del uno de las personas más importantes de México. Ciertamente, es una figura controvertida pero indudablemente fue transformador en el desarrollo industrial y hasta cultural del pueblo mexicano. Fue con él que se impulso más un nivel de apreciación como también exploración de las raíces indígenas mesoamericanas del Mexicano. He pensado por muchos años que él hubiera pasado a la historia como una figura muy positiva si hubiera muerto antes o si hubiera seguido con su plan original de no buscar su reelección en 1910.

[@genesiahmusic]

Amazing to learn more about my ancestor...I even have his facial structure 😮

[@thecollector4332]

Si porfirio no hubiera anunciado la reelección en 1910 y hubiera dejado a Madero volverse presidente en lugar de meterlo a la cárcel, al dia de hoy seria considerado un héroe pese a sus muchos crímenes (de la misma forma que Benito Juárez)

[@theoutlook55]

@@thecollector4332 de acuerdo.

[@guitardu]

He was right about what would happen after him in Mexican history, the revolution was failure and we see its effects today

[@guitardu]

Rios Salvajes That sounds like a failure to me my friend, they might have won materially but they have let the tiger loose, like Diaz said, and have no been able to tame it, for example not a single foot of rail was added to Mexico until this day

[@deadpoolcomics]

Ben Siener what does that mean? Most people in Mexico are mestizo, of European and indigenous background, not exactly the classical definition of “white”

[@theoutlook55]

@Ben Siener Um, no it's not. The majority of people are described as mestizo.

[@theoutlook55]

@IRONMAN taking as objective historical view as I can, the PRI create a level of political stability that prevented Mexico from suffering the devastating Civil War that most other Latin American countries suffered during the mid or late 20th century. Gave a level a societal stability too, imperfect though that was undoubtedly.

[@rotemplatino91]

@Ben Siener México doesn't have a white people population majority (80% are mestizos). México is pluricultural unlike other countries in the Americas such as Brazil, Argentina or Canada for example.

[@mrmike2119]

If more (USA) Americans understood Mexico's (still actually Americans) history, they probably would better understand and appreciate their own struggles and successes as a nation of mixed cultures.

[@ericktellez7632]

It would complicate things because I dont think us, as humans are ready to fully cope with guilt and responsability. Part of the problems with latin america came directly from US and Russian intervention during the cold war, that is something that Americans either arent aware of or fully reject, they feel that admitting this part of 20th century history would be like admitting blame, but there isnt any other way of putting it, the US in the pretense of stopping socialism and communism completly wrecked south america and Mexico which, combined with the history of those nations, it made the current immigration crisis and cartel problems that exists today.

[@pplebite8844]

Unfortunately, the reverse would more than likely happen. It would encourage certain subsets of society to turn America into Mexico...

[@ericktellez7632]

@@pplebite8844 Not true, sadly for you there is already hard data on this, most people who descend from immigrants are fully adapted into their host coutry by the second generation in average, by the third generation they are basically regular citizens that either forget their descendants language and culture or know almost nothing, making them an average citizen of that host nation.

[@Nonamelol.]

Mexico is very advanced economically speaking but politically speaking, No.

[@dinosaurfriedchicken]

NO

[@daaniel_malik]

Damn! I loved this video guys, it's very unbiased and makes some excellent points! Thanks for digging into some Mexican history; saludos from Cuernavaca, Morelos! 😃👋🇲🇽 Keep up the great work!

[@anthonyraymundobarron1255]

Saludos de Sain Alto, Zacatecas !!!😃👋👋

[@gkm2928]

I've always wanted to go to Cuernavaca. My wife's family lives in Tlalpan, DF and they say it's not too far a drive (by Mexican standards) to there. ¡Saludos!

[@TheArchangelSeth]

*Mexican Guard bringing in a criminal before porfiro* Guard: Sir. this man was vandalizing the streets and homes. what do we do with him? Porfirio: TO THE RANCH! jolly ol chap!

[@anarchism]

you people got a wrong idea about that dicktator

[@__prometheus__]

undertakersarmpit woosh

[@MrJuvefrank]

That's what I think. Dictator should have a K. in it.

[@edgelord8337]

Profiro diaz: i'm a dictator. Me: ok. Profiro diaz: i'm also a _gentleman_ Me: *(confused screaming sounds)*

[@theparadigm8149]

Profirió: “Que tal?! El es cierto...” 😏

[@Akrata696]

Lo cortés no quita lo valiente

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:40 - Chapter 1 - Chaos nation 4:50 - Chapter 2 - The inferno 8:45 - Chapter 3 - A warrior's rise 12:35 - Mid roll ads 13:45 - Chapter 4 - "No reelection !" 17:15 - Chapter 5 - The porfiriato 21:00 - Chapter 6 - The creelman interview 23:55 - Chapter 7 - The end of order

[@franciscobuenrostro3891]

Diaz is the best leader Mexico has ever had, he wasn’t perfect but he had Mexico under control, something no other leader has been able to do

[@terushinomiya]

Exactamente!

[@dattallaudiophile236]

Amen

[@arenasnefi]

Agreed

[@aaronlimeuchin7352]

When I watched this video, it does kind of reminded me of a similar video about Lenin I watched years ago. Although of different nationality and background, both man are leaders of great nation and may had done unquestionable things at the back of their people but at the cost of stabilizing the country economy and welfare, but sadly in the end, their legacies were destroyed by rabid and corrupted mad dogs that were vying for power and wealth.

[@stoffls]

No, he was a president turned dictator. Sure, he was not the worst, but certainly far away from being the best. And his control was one with boots on the ground. Sure, he was the first president to give independent Mexico a stable time after all the unrest since independence. But since the late 1920s there has been again a period of peace in this beautiful country, not perfect but at least no president ever attempted to break the promise "no reelecion" anymore.

[@johncate9541]

Without Porfirio Diaz, would modern Mexico even exist at all? They were well on their way to being like modern Somalia when he got control.

[@skantiloak]

Ask any conservative in Mexico , we all agree Diaz was one of the best leaders of Mexico and enabled a railroad system to be built . He was gifted Napoleons sword from the battle of austerlitz from France , that alone should tell you how badass he was

[@skantiloak]

@Rios Salvajes I bet you love the current administration of Mexico , do you believe in socialist policies ?

[@skantiloak]

@Rios Salvajes are you a socialist ?

[@ferrosascordoba7177]

John Cate 🙄🙄🙄 Modern México births thanks to Mexican Revolution , whitouth this revolution México in the 20 century maybe being something like Guatemala or other se southamericans military dictatorships and his horrible genocide

[@shrek19yearsago78]

@@ferrosascordoba7177not really if it weren’t for profiero Díaz mexico would still look like the wild west

[@petercroves8562]

I said before and will say again, What of one, on Benito Juarez

[@alexanderveritas]

Can’t help but notice how much Porfirio Diaz looks like a _19th century Mexican version of Freddie Mercury._

[@jakk7359]

Please do a video about Stroessner, the former dictator of Paraguay and the longest serving dictator in South American history. I think he's too unknown.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Gipsy Danger *refuge

[@weirdshibainu]

Lot of Germans in Paraguay

[@thekaiser6842]

An ethnic German known for having communists chainsawed. A great man in my eyes.

[@hakeemsd70m]

@@thekaiser6842 Sicko...

[@sbevexlr848]

@@thekaiser6842 pro Americans are not good guys I'm very confused since that is said from a wilhelmist

[@limeyndixie]

I completely enjoy your concise and informative videos, but it’s the flashes of dry Albion wit that make them truly memorable. Thanks for that, mate.

[@victoriadaidone4594]

When will you do Rafael Leonidas Trujillo? I his rule over the Dominican is interesting and had a huge impact on Dominican culture. I am Dominican and I think it would be cool to see something about him on this channel.

[@jmchez]

For anyone who read the books, "Killing the Goat" and "The Feast of the Goat", the stuff that went on during that time seem like something out of a mid Twentieth Century "Game of Thrones". Trujillo's son, Ramfis, played the role of Jeoffrey, the psychopathic heir frighteningly well.

[@thegunslinger8806]

I can also see you are a communist, would you like to board my tour copter?

[@carlosmarte428]

jmchez You should look at Saddam’s son as well. As far as dictator’s sons, that guy takes the cake.

[@neonenayoy3997]

he killed thousands of Haitians sugar workers and tried to make his country more European.

[@joshuacoleman8000]

@@carlosmarte428 Which one?

[@bodyloverz30]

Thanks for making this video, I suggested it, you all must read our requests!

[@susanaortiz8322]

I'm always amazed at how much I enjoy and how different and interesting I find history now that I'm a young adult as opposed to when you're in school and you're having these subjects shoved down your throat, learning all these dates and people just to pass an exam. I'm like, 'oh, yeah I remember that' but have no real idea of what it is because I just glazed over it at school....anyway, loooove your content. Thank you!!

[@Ville112358]

Porfirio Diaz was the man that modernized Mexico. Yes he left many behind but we are who we are because of him. History has no goodies or baddies just those who transcend.Great Video Simon

[@elperrodelautumo7511]

Exactly.

[@DGLA13]

Profirio Diaz was a better leader than what people are willing to accept.

[@josejonhson674]

What stupid statement. He was a tyrant, committed genocide against Yaqui and Mayan natives. Made slavery legal again. He's one the reasons the Mexican revolution started.

[@DGLA13]

@@josejonhson674 I agree Porfirio had his flaws. And his decline was a defining factor that sparked the Mexican revolution. But he had positive contributions to Mexican society overall. Modern education system in Mexico does not like to acknowledge that. Let's not forget the power void left after Diaz which led to one party rule in Mexico for 70 years.

[@MarketChange]

@@josejonhson674 yes. Y no por eso se va a desprestigiar lo que hizo anteriormente a la revolución Y aun hoy en día hay gente que lo apoya y lo recuerda por sus contribuciones pero también conoce lo que llevo a la revolución And don't come with that only minorities still support his ideas because is that so you need to talk more to people and actually ask them why they still support him today regardless of his negative actions

[@sofiasalum2878]

Awesome video! Really needed to refresh this part of history in my mind. I’ve always had mixed emotionS about porfirio but I cannot deny the architectural boom there was in his presidency is stunning. You should do a video on More Mexican characters!

[@falangemexicana8554]

Mr. Diaz was a necessary evil in Mexico. Diaz kept corrupt politicians in-check or when needed, eliminated. Diaz encouraged foreign investment which allowed Mexico to modernize rapidly (it was forecasted for Mexico to start rivaling powers in Europe). Mexico was gaining respect all around the world. However, this was all quickly thrown out the window after the Revolution and Mexico went through a period of stagnation. And now we are where we are now. Thanks for the information in the video! Really enjoyed it!

[@ilo3456]

That is the same thing I believe about the man, he was a necessary evil since the country was a mess when he took over, he wanted Mexico to be a country to rival any other of the major powers of the world, to have the riches and splendor of the old world, to modernize it since it was a rural country at the end of the day, he truly loved the country, the country needed a man who could bring order to a lawless land. Here we owe some of our most beautiful architecture to the man's efforts, our first railway, the man had built a cabinet of advisors who were highly educated professionals. People love to malign him, and I believe it is a shame because if anyone is to be maligned it should be those warlords who cared not for the country but their own power and personaly greed, had Madero not been backstabed he could have stabilised the country and avoid the long decade of civil war that the Revolución was.

[@goxdie000]

FYI, readers: Synarchists are the ultra-right wing of conservatives in Mexico. Google it up!

[@edchampion3720]

@@goxdie000 based

[@unthawedwater747]

CAN YOU DO A STORY ABOUT PATRICE LUMUMBA?? He was a figure in the middle of the cold war and his assassination was muddled because he had dealings with the CIA and KGB.....

[@YouAintGotNoTegridyBoi]

He seemed like a quintessential benevolent dictator type.

[@MrJuvefrank]

Benevolent dictator looks like an oxy moron.

[@MrJuvefrank]

Women must have thought he was very cute guy who needed to die.

[@mariano98ify]

@@MrJuvefrank cough cough Caesar and Napoleon cough cough

[@theoutlook55]

Accurate. It's worth noting however, they even benevolent dictatorships are harsh when they are defied.

[@JosePineda-cy6om]

@@MrJuvefrank Not really. Look at Singapur's Lee Kwan Yew, or today's Rwanda's Paul Kagame: 400% authoritarian, but as long as you followed the rules, didn't cross the dictator nor agitated the waters asking for democracy, you'd be safe. Heck, you could even become rich, taking advantage of the stability these "enlightened despots" typically bring to their countries. Russia's Peter the Great or Japan's emperor Meiji are other examples of the same, as is Gaspar Francia of Paraguay

[@jbvmty]

As a Mexican, I have to say, your video is SPOT ON !!!!!!!

[@mr.joshua6818]

Great video. Instantly one of my favorites in the history of the channel. Viva Mexico!

[@skantiloak]

One of the best leaders of Mexico 🇲🇽

[@teamcanaloficial8358]

Only the 2 emperor's of mexico were better, Agustin y Maximiliano

[@RicardoJoseReza]

Well if you consider slave labor as an element of progress, and if you considr that same progress should aply to a selected few. Yes, he was great.

[@jmchez]

You did not mention that Santa Ana introduced chicle (bubble gum) to the USA when, for a while, he was an importer in Staten Island, NY. Our bubble gum infested sidewalks and table bottoms are his revenge.

[@crazyhb4]

Mexican here. Listening to you say the names of these famous figures of my country is awesome. Never heard a brit do it.

[@spectreshadow]

I truly love this channel and geographics!! Thank you so much.

[@Cuauhtemoc3]

Just as I was about to watch a video on Mexican history this pops up. Great timing and as always great work.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Ayy didn’t think I’d see a fellow Pac fan here, it’s like he’s everywhere lol

[@Cuauhtemoc3]

@@forcedtohaveahandle yeah I'm everywhere.

[@forcedtohaveahandle]

Makaveli Raider Productions First time I’ve seen you though (unless you changed your pfp)

[@Cuauhtemoc3]

@@forcedtohaveahandle I did change my profile pic. Are u also a fan of this channel?

[@TheeDrGroyper]

More Mexican Revolution videos, por favor. It’s a unique revolution known to mankind. To us Mexicans, it’s an unfinished one..

[@rafaelmarquez3948]

Simon, lets get CUAUHTEMOC the last aztec emperor...

[@vasilkokinovski9212]

Since you guys are doing Biographics on dictators, how about a bio on Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier.

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

Yet another crazed authoritarian

[@crazypato3752]

Papa Doc from 8 Mile?

[@mandalor45]

thats quite the moustache

[@barboshaa]

Small correction... it wasn't Diaz who led the battle of Puebla, it was Zaragoza :)

[@yaddar]

they did say he was SECOND in command

[@BrainsApplied]

They did have quite some style in those days 😍

[@mussicanttakegreece7296]

One of the few dictators that did not used a country's wealth for his own pleasure, instrad grew the wealth of his country.

[@odinson364]

Great Video. Just one observation. The name of the plan was Plan de San Luis, from the city in which Madero was imprisoned: San Luis Potosi.

[@GoodGuyPlayer2]

Great video! To my perspective, Díaz could be described as how Bane described himself: He was not pure evil, but necesary evil. The only correction to the video (imo): The 5 de mayo Battle or Puebla was lead by Díaz yes, but commanded and planned by General Ignacio Zaragoza (another great mexican warrior btw)

[@MB-ez7lf]

Brilliantly concise presentation of a very complex history. Thank you so much.

[@explorer1968]

During the Porfiriato, Mexico had the only Golde Age it ever had. In exile, Porfirio Díaz was honored by kings and presidents of Europe and celebrated as an exemplary statesman; sad that in his native Mexico both liberals and communists have manipulated Mexicans to condemn Díaz as an abhorrent tyrant, all so despicable that Díaz is seen like the devil himself...

[@JohnDoe-jy7ep]

Leftists are absolute scum, I know I'm Mexican myself and highly admire porfirio myself.

[@kocholawis1851]

You forgot to mention that during his government most of the Mexicans were basically enslaved by a minority of landowners who used to hang them at will, in a mandatory system of debt, and that is the life experience of the ancestors of most modern Mexicans.

[@philcassidy3823]

When he was in charge, guns were legal in mexico.

[@louthegiantcookie]

So he still oppresses people, but sometimes wears a monocle and top hat whilst he does it?

[@Flergenbergen]

Lots of people in Mexico still support him. He did a lot to build up industry and the economy of Mexico. I personally sympathize much more with the people who overthrew him, but he isn't just an evil monster like many dictators.

[@josejonhson674]

@@Flergenbergen no they don't. Only a minority/conservative groups supports him, and usually on online post.

[@Flergenbergen]

@@josejonhson674 I agree its a conservative minority that supports him. But I also don't think he is a monster compared to other dictators.

[@kleinegirl87]

Of course not, that's too British, he would wanted to emulate the French.

[@cosmicdude8282]

@@josejonhson674 actually no, more and more people in social networks (usually young people), starts to see that he wasn't a "villain" as the history books and school wanted to make us believe (there are even memes about making fun of Benito Juárez and praising Diaz)

[@tamalepapi4692]

“I feel like I’m governing a mental hospital” - Porfirio Diaz about Mexico.

[@erickdaza5020]

Unpopular opinion:Porfirio Diaz was the best leader Mexico ever had.We owe Mexico's infrastructure, standing, modernizing and overall push towards whatever Mexico has achieved to him

[@teamcanaloficial8358]

Not importante to me, Pero viva porfirio Diaz! El mejor presidente que hemos tenido en México!

[@danim2897]

Many Mexicans, including myself, have a new appreciation of Porfirio Diaz. We need him today to bring in order.

[@SVC96.]

So you want a suddam Hussein or a Gaddafi

[@dwaynepeters4520]

@@SVC96. Those are actually good examples, though not for the reasons you think. Hussein and Gaddafi were brutal dictators--but after them came civil war, anarchy, and ISIS. Is Gaddafi worse than ISIS? Definitely not.

[@danim2897]

@Rios Salvajes I’ll take that over what we have right now in Mexico. Murders, kidnappings, theft etc etc etc We need law and order. Funny how most of what we admire especially in Mexico City is due to Porfirio Diaz. Death penalty in Mexico is much needed

[@GustavoRodriguez-cv5qw]

Ahuevo que si.

[@The_king567]

@@dwaynepeters4520he is

[@shaunmattice6413]

I finally caught up with all your biopics. Keep them coming. Also you should do one on Marry Shelley.

[@henco_kruger]

You are very good i learn every day more stuff

[@Schelmisch1820]

Interessting would be a biographics about henry dunant, the founder of the red cross. Always like your videos. Keep up the good and interesting bios!

[@vincentrooseveltcompany1330]

*He’s not a dictator, he’s my great great Grandfather*

[@GustavoRodriguez-cv5qw]

Si wey claro.

[@GerSanRiv]

This was well researched.

[@arturolicona]

We need another Porfiriato in Mexico, meritocracy instead of nepotism. A government that truly gets rid of bandits.

[@zico739]

Angelina No country has ever prospered because of free market policies.

[@ebonymaw8457]

@@zico739 Literally every country that's prospering is doing so because of free market policies

[@Eevcee]

Ebony Maw literally every country that’s prospering is doing so because of a MIX of public and private enterprise. No country that relies on one extreme or the other exists without massive social problems.

[@ebonymaw8457]

Erik Castro true

[@ferrosascordoba7177]

Ebony Maw the CCCP : Hold my Beer in Venus and Saturn ...literally Russia was an agrarian country and has a feudal system, feudal in the last 19 century !!! Then pf Rusian Revolution...in less than 50 years the russians go to the Space , 50 !!! this is progress, i no support the soviet system but is the fact that free market has not the only way for prosperity a country in the 20 century ...

[@Zorbak962]

I was just watching your videos a few days ago and hoping you would have more episodes about Mexican history. Thanks!!

[@kennethbyrd4807]

Porfirio Diaz is my 3 times great Grandfather, I’ve known this all my life but never the history for obvious reasons. Thanks for the video and history lesson of my lineage!

[@str8edgerockstar956]

Watch "El Vuelo del Auila" Mexican soap opera about Porfirio Diaz's life.

[@alfredobecerra2878]

Love it

[@alfredobecerra2878]

It made me emotional when I saw it

[@herencia2j321]

Where can I find it?

[@waceyseufer7083]

Lol dude! At 18:30 when you said Diaz wanted to "Make Mexico great again" you should've totally put Trumps hairstyle on his picture xD hahaha

[@OBS.Rey__]

Wacey Seufer 🤣

[@anirudhkumar4507]

7:14 The most Mexican Exit Ever! XD 😆😆😆

[@vascosilva5942]

Please make a video about Dr. António de Oliveira Salazar. Greatings from Portugal!

[@ericq9579]

Mi País es una tragedia tras otra.. Thank you for recounting our history in an interesting and dignified manner👍👍👍

[@JRVBG]

The example of “Die as a hero or be president enough to become a villain”

[@ravenhill_of_midsummer_1968]

an interesting vid, as a british man i like to learn about other cultures.

[@beanmachine311]

Business blaze is the best of your channels Simon, more people should subscribe to it.

[@r.speirs]

Unrelated but could you do an episode about William Poole from New York? He’s the inspiration for William Cutting in the movie Gangs of New York.

[@aasemahsan]

1:39 Early history of Mexico & early life of Porfirio Diaz 8:42 Role in the Reform War & Napoleon III's invasion of Mexico 14:44 Road to Presidency (in 1877) 17:10 *Porfiriato* (Reign of Porfirio Diaz) 20:59 The Creelman Interview & fall from power

[@isakrodriguez1805]

Can you do a video about the Alamo I really love learning about Mexican history because I am part Hispanic my dad is from Mexico and I love learning about the history of it can you do more videos like that please

[@MrJuvefrank]

The Alamo was a story of how my fellow Americans were screwing off when they should have been working and then the Mexicans grabbed the American's weapons and started firing. If he doesn't give you your documentay you'll probably get it anyway from somebody else.

[@luxembourgishempire2826]

Now this is what I subscribed for!

[@someguitardude8462]

I personaly hate the way Díaz is portrayed in the public education system. Sure, he wasn't the wonderful perfect ruler that most wannabe historians believe him to be, but he did far more for the nation than some of our so called "heroes", namely, Benito Juárez, who almost sold half the country, opressed the native people more than any president in mexican history (ironic given he was of native origins himself) and stayed in power for almost as long. Díaz was one of the nation's greatest presidents, even though that's REALLY not saying much...

[@kingphill456]

Porfirio Diaz inspired most Latin American Countries like Argentina, Columbia, Vensuliza, Dominican Republic, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and other countries to try to replicate his style of stability for their country for most of the 19 century and into the early 20th century. Argentina was so inspired by DIaz and The USA campaign they end up genociding the Native population like the USA after the triple alliance war of 1865 and had GDP bigger than the USA at the turn on of the 20th century. My source is from The Penguin History of Latin America Paperback - February 23, 2010, That book I learned it taking a Latin American history course in 2012 at San Jacinto Community college CA.

[@The_king567]

Mexico and all of the Americas killed the natives off

[@alexarnold4721]

Can we get a biographics episode on Thomas Edward Lawrence(of arabia )?

[@one-re2ub]

You should do an episode on Porfiriro Rubirosa, the Dominican real life James Bond.

[@alfredobecerra2878]

My ancestors served in militias, under his ranks during the Second French invasion and occupation, in the Battle of Miahuatlan 1866.

[@dianam2850]

They need more people like that in Mexico/USA today.But seriously If Diaz was ALIVE today to see Mexico he would be so hurt to see Mexico being over run by the drug cartels and, the Mexican government being so Corrupt Diaz is a part of my culture's history he seemed ok

[@JohnDoe-jy7ep]

He was a hero!

[@alex619leal]

17:18 "Plata o Plomo" actually means * Money or Led . Although plata literally mean silver in Spanish , in context it really means money . That's how narcos threat people , take the money or die with led . Furthermore , Colombians are generally the ones who refer to money as Plata. There's many other ways money it's called in Latin America.

[@foxbodyblues6709]

I have a buddy who’s ex wife is descended from Porfirio Diaz’s lawyer who followed him in exile...

[@MrJuvefrank]

I'm glad you mentioned that. People act like Díaz was all that, but you have the courage to say he was exiled.

[@foxbodyblues6709]

MrJuvefrank he was exiled to France I believe, and he took a lot of money with him. The lawyer did too, and my buddy’s ex wife’s family still was living on that money. They were still rich.

[@omarreyes7626]

25:50 that's an understatement, while the revolutionary army historically has been portrayed as a farmers militia in truth it mostly consisted on bandits, mercenaries and deserters with very low moral values, small villages would often see all of their food supplies being "donated" to the revolutionary cause and every woman (or anything on a skirt TBH) was raped, it got so bad a lot of these villages were actually more scared of the revolutionary army than the goverment one, there's a famous story in my town Chapala, it's a town on the shore of the largest lake in mexico the "lake chapala", there are at least 10 towns surrounding it, during the revolution, whenever there was word a squad of "revolucionaries" would reach a town like say chapala, parents and husbads would pay the local fishermen to transport the women and valuables to the other side of the lake, then back again when the revolurionaries were circling around.

[@devenirdelostiempos]

Santa Anna didn't "seize" the power during The Mexican American War, he was asked to be president.

[@hochifeen]

"Carrot or stick' is a better translation. We shouldn't get too literal with idiomatic expressions, although with the Narcos one, I would go more literal. Not with the Porfiriato slogan though.

[@DakinRinone]

The like to dislike ratio is crazy good

[@jeffkemper8898]

How about a video about Alferd Packer? It'd be great to give him the Biographics treatment.

[@cowboys19js]

Who are we kidding... Mexico is still in chaos.

[@Trabunkle]

Great video mate, I always enjoy your videos very much, you guys put a lot of effort on researching the topics and end up doing a great job. Speaking on the subject, in this video you mentioned 3 key figures on Mexico's history: Santa Ana, Maximiliano and Porfirio Diaz, but there is one important aspect about these 3 persons that they all have in common, the 3 of them were backed by the clergy of the Catholic Church, the clergy had a lot of power in those days, they controlled a lot of land, they had a lot of wealth, some banks and had the ear of the people. they were behind the persons who brought Maximilian, they were behind all the presidency's of Santa Ana and they also were behind the 36 years of Porfirio, they didn't like the constitution of 1957 that separated State and Church, the policies that took away all of the land and riches they had, so Diaz in order to solidify his power betrayed the constitution and gave back all the land and riches to them. They backed Santa Ana as long as he didn't meddle in their affairs or took their land and riches. I know this is controversial and a lot of people may not like this and reply to my comment, but it is what it is. I'm a catholic and I believe in god, but not so much on the clergy, specially the upper echelon of it. In no way I'm trying to offend anyone! Cheers Mate!

[@f.xavier45]

I would add that after the Revolution capitalized Porfirio Díaz was demonized ever after, and he still is. His descendants haven’t even been allowed to bring back his body from France. He is still buried at the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris.

[@weirdshibainu]

Sounds like Mexico could use a man like him now.

[@samdoesvids1339]

AMLO rocks!

[@emmysan8784]

Yes, yes we could.

[@arturolicona]

@@samdoesvids1339 amlo is an incompetent clown and a joke

[@weirdshibainu]

@Angelina Wow. What a great response. I live in Nevada and we have a large number of Hispanics (mainly from Mexico) that have come from California. They're just like what you say. They complain about California, but vote for the same mentality in Nevada that ruined California. I dont talk politics at work, but I never could understand how they voted for Obama the second time around.

[@petersonofleo11]

@@samdoesvids1339 AMLO wants Mexico to be pre 80s PRI.

[@texaspatriot2038]

As always you are the best channel on youtube