
Rafael Montero in 1941.
Don Rafael Montero (1789 - 1841) was a Spanish noblemen in the 19th Century and governor of California.
Biography[]

Rafael Montero in 1821.
Montero was born in 1789 in Seville, Spain. He moved to California in the early 1800's were he was stationed as captain under the orders of Governor Monasterio. There he met his future enemy Diego de la Vega a nobleman who was in secret the people's local hero El Zorro.
In 1821, Montero was the corrupt governor of California. After Mexico declared their independence from Spain. Montero uncovered de la Vega's identity, he infiltrated his house and de la Vega's wife Esperanza was accidentally killed by one of Montero's soldiers, who was then himself killed by a furious Montero. He then arrested de la Vega and taked his infant daughter Elena and raised her as his own, but de la Vega sweared vengeance on Montero.
In 1841, Montero returned to California with the intent on purchasing the territory for himself to rule, by any means necessary, including illegal activity. Meanwhile, an aged de la Vega escaped from prison upon knowing that his archenemy has arrived. Knowing Montero would resume his evil deeds, de la Vega realized he needed an apprentice to finish what he started. Soon enough, found an apprentice named Alejandro Murrieta, whom he trained to become the new Zorro. Together, the two Zorros confronted Montero and his second-in-command, Captain Harrison Love, and Elena discovered that de la Vega was her true father. During the climax, Alejandro battled Love while de la Vega crossed swords with Montero, but he was mortally wounded by Montero during the fight. However, de la Vega managed to kill Montero by dragging him behind a wagon filled with gold bars and over a cliff, where the screaming Montero fell to his death. The wagon also landed on top of Love, who happens to be right below the cliff, crushing him.