Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo-Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor (8 May 1753 – 30 July 1811), more commonly known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla or simply Miguel Hidalgo, is a Mexican priest and a leader of the Mexican War of Independence.

As a Mexican priest, Miguel Hidalgo is assigned to a church in Dolores, Mexico.

After his arrival, he is shocked by the poverty he finds.

In 1810, he gives a famous speech, "The Cry of Dolores".

As he then marches across Mexico, he gathers an army of nearly 90,000 poor farmers and Mexican civilians in his rebellion against Spanish rule.

They attack and kill Spanish soldiers in small groups along the way, but Hidalgo's army lacks training and is poorly armed.

Eventually, Hidalgo's army runs into a force of 6,000 well armed, well trained Spanish troops.

Much of Hidalgo's army flees or is killed.

Hidalgo himself is later executed by a firing squad on July 30, 1811.