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...despite my privileged upbringing, I am a true son of Mexico, but as a Mexican, I know our county needs strong leadership and this is what I intend to provide. The road for our country has never been easy, but I promise you, we are now heading in the correct direction.
Ignacio Sanchez

Ignacio Sanchez is a minor, unseen character featured in Red Dead Redemption.

History[]

Background[]

Ignacio Sanchez had a privileged upbringing, having studied abroad in both Spain and Bolivia. From being the leader of the cavalry division in Mexico, he eventually rose to the rank of General. In 1910, one year before the game's setting, Sanchez gathered his forces to instigate a bloody coup, on the premise that the national government lacked the capability to properly rule the people. The coup was successful and Sanchez managed to usurp the then-president of Mexico, who was his brother, after allegedly killing him. With his presidency underway, Sanchez made several speeches to the Mexican people, promising a new golden era for Mexico, and big changes aimed to benefit everyone.

However, most of these promises were empty, and once the people began to protest, Sanchez sent his army to quell any uprisings throughout the country. One province that received much of Sanchez's support was Nuevo Paraíso, where large amounts of supplies and troops were entrusted to the territory's provincial governor, Colonel Allende and his forces.

Events of Red Dead Redemption[]

Sanchez is never encountered in the game, but is referenced on several occasions, either through articles in the Blackwater Ledger or by snide remarks from Abraham Reyes.

After Reyes and his rebels overthrew Colonel Allende, they marched on to Sanchez's residence in Mexico City, and managed to overthrow him after a bloody siege which lasted for several weeks. Sanchez's fate is unknown after the battle - a newspaper reports that he either fled into exile to live out the rest of his days in disgrace, or was killed during the battle for Mexico City. His fate remains a mystery.

Character[]

Personality[]

General Ignacio Sanchez. Our country's kind and generous dictator. Everything comes from him. It is like a father who beats his son, and then the son takes his dog outside and rapes it.
Abraham Reyes to John Marston

Sanchez is depicted to be a deceptive and cruel dictator. Even with all the social unrest in Mexico, the people of the United States were under the impression that Sanchez was still committed to helping the Mexican people, not hindering them. This is exemplified when John Marston openly admitted that he thought Sanchez was a kind and gracious leader and that the people were praising his actions, suggesting that Sanchez has indulged in corruption and spreading misinformation.

Ignacio Sanchez also seems to care little for his own kin, usurping and allegedly even killing his own brother.

Trivia[]

  • Sanchez seems to take inspiration from a composite of Mexican Presidents Porfirio Díaz and Victoriano Huerta. Huerta staged a counter-revolutionary coup during the early years of the Mexican Revolution, only to be overthrown a year later.
    • Additionally, there is a propaganda poster found in Nosalida depicting both Sanchez and Allende and what they represent to the people of Mexico. In this poster, he bears a strong resemblance to Porfirio Díaz.
  • Abraham Reyes tells John Marston about Ignacio Sanchez while riding horses on the mission, "The Great Mexican Train Robbery".
    • Ironically enough, after taking power as the new Mexican President, Reyes proved to be no better a leader than Sanchez was, despite claims that he planned on transforming Mexico into a democracy run by the people.
    • Aside from their lust for power, Sanchez and Reyes also have similar backgrounds. Both were from rich families and had a privileged upbringing, and both went to schools abroad; Sanchez went to Spain and Bolivia, while Reyes went to Switzerland.

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