Serafin Olarte

Serafin Olarte (died 1821)

His date of birth about 1767. Olarte first appeared in 1813, when he gathered a force of 400 Totonacs and fought against the Spanish in the area near Papantla in the mountains of Cuyuxquihui. From 1812 until end of 1820 the countryside of northern Veracruz was hotbed of rebel activity and guerrilla fighting. His force soon grew to several thousand warriors, and even though they were lightly armed compared to their opponents, he repulsed several attacks by the Spanish royalists and kept them from controlling the region. In December 1935 the name of the city of Papantla de Hidalgo was officially changed to that of Papantla de Olarte in his honor.