Rurales
| Guardia Rural | |
|---|---|
A detachment of Rurales in field uniform during the Diaz era.
|
|
| Active | 1861 - 1914 (first stage), 1920s-1950s (second stage), 1970s-present (modern) |
| Country |
 Mexico
|
| Branch |
 Mexican Army
|
| Type | Gendarmerie |
| Nickname(s) | Rurales |
| Engagements |
Historic mounted police force: Cristero War Mexican War on Drugs |
Historic mounted police force:
Franco-Mexican War
Mexican Indian Wars
Skeleton Canyon Massacre
Guadalupe Canyon Massacre
Garza Revolution
Cananea strike
Mexican Revolution
Rurales (Spanish for "Rurals") is a Mexican term used to describe two different government forces:
The Guardia Rural was established as a federal constabulary by the Liberal regime of Benito Juárez in 1861. This mounted rural police force became best known during the long rule of President Porfirio Díaz (1877–1911).
As originally constituted under Juárez the Rurales lacked the numbers and organisation to effectively control the banditry widespread in Mexico during the 1860s and 1870s. The concept of an armed and mobile rural police organized on military lines, was derived from Spain's Civil Guard ("Guardia Civil"). Established in 1844 the Spanish Guardia had quickly won a reputation as an effective but often oppressive force.
On May 6, 1861 four corps of Rural Police were authorized by the Juárez government; each having an establishment of 20 officers and 255 other ranks. Recruitment was intended to be by voluntary enlistment. Pay was set at a higher level than that of the conscript based army. Control of the new force was divided between the Ministers of the Interior and of War - a policy intended to maintain a balance of power within the government.
The existing Corps of Rurales was absorbed into the Republican Army and irregular forces opposing the French intervention of 1862–1867. However the Imperial regime of Archduke Maximilian (1862–1867) created a parallel force known as the Resguardo, which by October 1865 numbered 12,263; indicating that the concept of a rural mounted police force had become well established. Following the Republican victory, Los Cuerpos Rurales were re-established.
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Wikipedia