Victoriano Huerta was a general of the federal army. He formed the federal División del Norte in Torreón and defeated the rebels of Pascual Orozco at Conejos, Rellano, La Cruz and Bachimba. In February 1913, during the Decena Trágica, he betrayed President Francisco I. Madero and removed him. On February 19, Huerta was installed as president. Madero and Vice President José María Pino Suárez were killed on February 22.
Huerta became known as el usurpador, the usurper. The encyclopedia Biografías y Vidas writes that he prepared “la traición que le ha hecho pasar a la historia” (the betrayal for which he has gone down in history).