The Cuban Revolution occurred from 1953 to 1959 when Fidel Castro and other revolutionaries overthrew the authoritarian regime of Fulgencio Batista. Key events included Castro's failed attack on the Moncada Barracks in 1953, which launched the revolution, his exile in Mexico and training of rebel fighters, and his return to Cuba to wage a guerrilla war against Batista's forces in the mountains. By 1958, Castro's forces had gained control over large parts of the countryside and major cities. Batista fled Cuba on January 1, 1959, bringing the revolution to a successful end.