Emilio Kosterlitzky
| Emilio Kosterlitzky | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Eagle of Sonora Mexican Cossack |
| Born | November 16, 1853 Moscow, Russia |
| Died | March 2, 1928 Los Angeles, California |
| Buried at | Calvary Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 Mexico
|
| Service/branch |
Mexican Army
|
| Years of service | 1871 - 1914 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | Spy |
Mexican Apache Wars
Yaqui Wars
Mexican Revolution
Emilio Kosterlitzky (1853–1928) was a Russian-born polyglot linguist and soldier of fortune who eventually became a spy for the United States.
Emil Kosterlitzky was born on November 16, 1853 in Moscow, to a German mother and Russian Cossack father. He was noted for his language ability; he spoke English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, Polish, Danish and Swedish.
In his teens, Emil joined the Russian Navy as a midshipman. By 1871, at the age of 18, he deserted his ship in Venezuela. Kosterlitzky then traveled to the Mexican state of Sonora, where he changed his name to Emilio and joined the Mexican Army. During the 1880s he fought in the Mexican Apache Wars. He also assisted American troops pursuing Apaches across the border under the 1882 United States–Mexico reciprocal border crossing treaty. Kosterlitzky became known to the American troops, who called him the "Mexican Cossack". In 1885, Kosterlitzky was appointed commander of the Gendarmería Fiscal, the customs guard for the Mexican government, by President Porfirio Díaz.
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