Ignacio Sanchez

 is a minor and unseen character featured in Red Dead Redemption. He is the tyrannical President of Mexico throughout much of the game, and represents most of the driving force behind the civil war between the Federales and the Reyes' Rebels.

Background
Sanchez was a Mexican general who took control of Mexico sometime in 1910, one year prior to the game's setting in 1911. According to early reports, he used to be the head of a cavalry division in Mexico, but thought that the national government lacked the capability to properly rule the people. So, in a bid to seize power, he gathered his forces to instigate a bloody coup, in which he killed his own brother (who was then the current President of Mexico). Afterwards, Sanchez made several speeches to the Mexican people, promising a new golden era for Mexico, and big changes aimed to benefit everyone.

Of course, most of these promises were empty, and once the people began to complain, Sanchez sent his army to quell any uprisings throughout the country. One territory that received much of Sanchez's support was Nuevo Paraiso, where large amounts of supplies and troops were entrusted to the territory's provincial governor, Colonel Allende and his forces. Even with all this social unrest going on, the people of the United States were made to believe that Sanchez was still committed to helping the Mexican people, not hindering them. This was further supported when Marston openly admitted that he thought Sanchez was a kind and gracious leader, and that the people were praising his actions. After Abraham 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. By the end of the game, nobody really knew what happened to Sanchez. Many claim 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.

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

Trivia

 * He is most likely based on Mexican President Porfirio Díaz.
 * He could also be partly based on Mexican general Victoriano Huerta who also staged a coup during the early years of the Mexican Revolution, only to be overthrown a year later.
 * 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.
 * Abraham Reyes tells John Marston about Ignacio Sanchez while riding horses on the mission, "The Great Mexican Train Robbery".

Gallery

 * This is a propaganda poster found in Nosalida. It depicts both Sanchez and Allende, and what they represent to the people of Mexico.

General Ignacio Sanchez