1830-1915. Dictator of Mexico 1877-80 and
1884-1911. After losing the 1876 election, he
overthrew the government and seized power. He
was supported by conservative landowners and
foreign capitalists, who invested in railways
and mines. He centralized the state at the
expense of the peasants and Indians, and
dismantled all local and regional leadership.
He faced mounting and revolutionary
opposition in his final years and was forced
into exile 1911.