Chucho el Roto

Who is Chucho el Roto?

Chucho el Roto was a Mexican bandit active in the late 19th century, whose life story has been the basis of number of books, plays and other media since before his death. His real name was Jesús Arriaga; the nickname Chucho is a common dimmunutive of Jesús in Mexico and roto, literally "broken", can mean "discarded" or ragged". He was born in the state of Tlaxcala in 1858. After being forced to abandon his family, Chucho became a bandit, becoming famous in the late 1870s and the first half of the 1880s. His fame came from his ability to cross Mexico’s strong socioeconomic circles and use this ability to rob from the wealthy. His legend also includes the love of fine clothes and the theater despite his humble birth and the sharing of at least some of his gains with the poor. The last aspect has prompted comparisons between him and Robin Hood. Chucho was last arrested in 1884 and died in the prison of San Juan de Ulúa in Veracruz in 1885.

Chucho el Roto’s fame and legend began with newspaper accounts of him from the time, with the first fictional story based on him appearing three months before his death.