Pancho Villa was a Mexican revolutionary who played an instrumental role in the Mexican Revolution. Often referred to as a bandit, Villa led a group of fighters known as Villistas. Synonyms for the name Pancho Villa include Rodolfo Fierro, The Centaur of the North and The Robin Hood of Mexico. Fierro was one of Villa's most trusted lieutenants, while The Centaur of the North was a reference to Villa's military tactics and his legendary horsemanship. The Robin Hood of Mexico was an allusion to Villa's reputation for redistributing wealth, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.