Chapter 6
Spanish Settlement in Texas
1650-1800
Essential Questions
• Would the new world have been discovered without
rivalry among the nations of Europe?
• Were the Spanish motivated by Gold, God, or Glory?
• To what extent were the French responsible for
renewing Spain’s interest in Texas?
• What evidence can be found today that the Spanish
left their mark on Texas?
Time Line
• 1689 Fort St. Louis is abandoned
• 1690 Mission San Francisco de los is Tejas
established
• 1716 Ramon expedition arrives in East Texas
• 1718 San Antonio de Valero (Alamo) mission
is established in San Antonio
• 1729 Los Adaes becomes 1st capital of Texas
• 1731 1st group of Canary Islanders arrives in San
Antonio
• 1772 San Antonio becomes capital of Texas
Section 1
Spain Responds to a French Threat
Fierce rivals, Spain and France both wanted to
claim Texas. Spain controlled the lands to the
west. France controlled the lands to the east.
Each country would have to establish
permanent settlements in Texas to keep its rival
out.
The Race to Claim Texas
• Spain and France both wanted to colonize Texas (Texas was between
Spanish Mexico and French Louisiana)
• Both countries knew the other would battle them for control of Texas
• Until late 1600s, Spain had settled parts of Texas and New Mexico
• After La Salle established Fort St. Louis, Spanish set out to destroy it
– (Spaniard )Alonso de Leon
• Set out to find and destroy Fort St. Louis but on 4th expedition, they found Fort St. Louis
abandoned
– Read Texas Voices on page 119
• Explored region now know as East Texas
• Named Caddo Indians he met Tejas
• Was able to convert Caddoes to Catholiticism (with Father Damian Massanet)
• Alonso de Leon named Nueces, Medina, and Hondo Rivers
• Alonso de Leon established first East Texas Mission…San Francisco de los Tejas
Alonso de Leon Marker
Father Damian Massanet
http://tractioncontrol.well-regulatedmilitia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/a100_0629.JPG
http://traveldk.com/dkimages/tt_sanant036momhis_014_attrlist.jpg
Spain Begins Building Missions
• Viceroy of New Spain was pleased with reports from de
Leon’s report of land and Father Massanet’s report that
Indians would be converted
• Mission was started in East Texas (land of the Tejas)
called Mission San Francisco de los Tejas
• 2nd mission started on Neches River called Santisimo
Nombre de Maria (Santa Maria)
– Mission was abandoned after priest and Native Texans
died
Spain Begins Building Missions, con’t
• Since everything was going well, de Leon and
Massanet went to Mexico City for supplies
and support
• Government decided to keep building
missions
– Domingo Teran de los Rios sent to build 8 more
missions in Texas and to look for any French
explorers
– Teran de los Rios was named governor of new
province of Tejas
Domingo Teran de los Rios
https://www.fnbbastrop.com/images/mural/left-panel.jpg
Mission San Francisco de los Tejas
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Founded in 1690
Changed locations or names 5 times
1st Mission in East Texas
Built near present day town of Weches
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/mission_tejas/
1716: mission moved to Bowles Creek and renamed to Nuestro Padre San
Francisco de los Tejas
1719: mission moved again because of small French Invasion called the
Chicken Wars
1721: mission moved again near present day Alto and renamed San
Francisco de los Neches
1730: part of mission abandoned and rest moved to Colorado River in
central Texas (no name change)
1731: mission moved to San Antonio on San Antonio River (present day
location) and renamed to San Francisco de la Espada
Today: Espada mission is part of San Antonio Missions Historical Park
Spain’s First Missions Fail
• 1691, Teran de los Rios and Father Massanet visited mission
San Francisco de los Tejas
• Found many problems
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Crops failed because of drought
Disease killed many of the Caddoes
Caddoes became resentful and hostile
Caddoes didn’t want to give up their way of life
• Didn’t want to help priests farm
• Didn’t want to work to support missions
– Supplies ran low
• Result of problems
– 1693: Spain gave up trying to settle Texas
– **At the time, French didn’t seem to be any more threat
– Spain realized that they would have to supply military support if
they wanted to permanently occupy Texas
The French Return
• 1699: French built trading post at Biloxi (present day Mississippi)
• 1702: French built another trading post in Mobile, Alabama
• Because of the trading posts, French started trading with Native
Americans
• Spain became interested again
– 1713: Father Francisco Hidalgo sent a request to French Governor of
Louisiana (Lamothe Cadillac) to ask if French Catholic priests could be
sent to East Texas to provide church services to Native Americans
• He didn’t tell Spain he made the request
– 1714: Governor Cadillac sent Louis Juchereau de St. Denis to visit
Father Hidalgo at San Juan Bautista Mission
• French Governor liked the idea of the French being able to visit Spanish territory
Father Francisco Hidalgo
French Governor of Louisiana
Lamothe Cadillac
http://www.billcasselman.com/LAMOCAD.jpg
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/adaes/images/time-Hidalgo-1710.jpg
Louis Juchereau de St. Denis
http://www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r14310/Sulte/Images/JuchereauDeStDenis/g.jpg
An Unlikely Partnership
• When Spanish government found out about St.
Denis (French man) arriving at the San Juan
Baustista Mission, they were not happy
– Letting French (in Spanish territory) was against
Spanish law
• St. Denis was arrested at the Presidio by
Commander Diego Ramon
– Presidio: military post in area under Spanish
control
Remains of a Presidio
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/presidio/images/presidio-main.jpg
An Unlikely Partnership, con’t
• When St. Denis was in custody, he became friends with
Ramon and fell in love with Ramon’s granddaughter
(Manuela Sanchez)
• But, he was still sent to Viceroy in Mexico City
– He convinced officials that he was just helping Indians in East
Texas and that French had no plans to build colonies in Spanish
territory
• Viceroy set him free and realized that Spanish would have
to start building missions in East Texas again
– Ramon led expedition to find areas to build
• Knew land
• Good relationship with Caddo Indians
– St. Denis was allowed to marry Ramon’s granddaughter
Spain Reclaims East Texas
• Ramon expedition left San Juan Bautista in June
1716
• Reopened San Francisco de los Tejas mission
• By end of 1716, six missions had been established
from Neches River to Natchitoches, LA
• Also built a presidio on Neches River across from
San Francisco mission
Spain Reclaims East Texas, con’t
• Missions would need supplies…supplies had to go from
Mexico to East Texas
• Built half-way post/settlement near San Antonio River
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Built this in 1718
Called Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo)
http://www.thealamo.org/main/index.php
Also established Presidio on San Antonio de Bexar across
river from mission
• 10 families settled around presidio in settlement called La Villa de
Bexar
– This settlement became most important Spanish colony in Texas
– Later became city of San Antonio
SPANISH MISSIONS, 1714–1718
Frightened Spaniards Retreat
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New missions in East Texas not successful
– Indians didn’t like mission life
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Refused to take orders from priests
Refused to help with daily chores
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Food supplies ran low
In Europe, Spain and France started fighting over 2 Mediterranean islands (Sicily and
Sardinia)…war broke out in 1719
– France had Lieutenant Philippe Blondel take over Spanish mission near Nacogdoches
– French overpowered priests and friars and looted the mission
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Took supplies
Blondel took chickens, tied them to his saddle, chickens started squawking causing his horse to rear up.
Blondel was thrown off his horse. Other soldiers went to help Blondel and some of Spaniards escaped
One of the friars escaped to Presidio Delores on Neches River and reported the incident…exaggerated
events saying the French forces were invading Texas
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Spanish priests, missionaries, families, etc panicked
Spanish Captain Domingo Ramon ordered everyone to leave East Texas and go to La Villa at San Antonio de Bexar
– This became known as the Chicken
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War
Result: French ran Spaniards out of East Texas proving that Spanish had weak hold
on Texas
– Also humiliated Spanish and they became very determined to reclaim Texas
http://www.allposters.ie/-st/Michel-Lasne-posters_c65168_.htm
Section 2
France Loses the Race for Texas
Embarrassed by the French in the “Chicken
War”, Spain vowed to take back East Texas.
Colonists and additional soldiers were brought
in so life in the missions and presidios could
resume. By firmly occupying Texas, Spain finally
emerged the victor over France.
Spain Returns with a Vengeance
• Chicken War demonstrated Spain’s weakness in Texas
• 1721: Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo put in charge
to reestablish Spanish authority in East Texas
– Left Mexico and went to San Antonio to Mission San Jose y
San Miguel de Aguayo (very successful mission)
– Then set out for East Texas
• Met up with St. Denis at Neches River
– St. Denis in charge of French Settlement at Natchitoches
– St. Denis knew Spanish (Aguayo) would not be happy that French were
back in East Texas
– Aguayo agreed not to attack the French if French would leave immediately
Spanish Strongholds are Established
• When Aguayo got to East Texas, he saw that all of
the missions had been abandoned
• So, he left priests and supplies at each mission
• Established Mission Los Adaes
• Built new presidio called Nuestra Senora del Pilar
– Left soldiers and cannons at presidio to show
Spanish were in control
Spanish Strongholds, con’t
• Because of new mission and presidio, Los Adaes became
capital of newly created province of Texas
– Purpose of Los Adaes: to watch for French activity in region and
block any French invasions
• In 1721, Aguayo went to site of old Fort St. Louis
– Captain Domingo Ramon was building new presidio there
• Presidio named Nuestra Senora de Loreto
• Aguayo also built a new mission called Mission Espiritu Santo
Zuniga near new presidio
– Would work with Indians on Gulf Coast
• Spain now had 10 new missions and 4 new presidios—this
firmly secured Texas for Spain
New Colonists Arrive
• Settlers were needed to keep colonies growing
• But, who would want to come to Texas???
• Finally, 400 natives of the Canary Islands agreed to settle in
Texas
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But, it took 12 years to get all of the details worked out
• In 1731, finally 15 families (55 people) from the Canary
Islands arrived in San Antonio de Bexar (not the 400)
– Built a village called San Fernando de Bexar
• Settlers formed a church, organized a village government, and built the
first school in Texas
• They grew corn, beans, oats, cotton, melons, chili peppers, etc from
seeds that Spanish government gave them
• See sketch on page 127
The Canary Islands
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/europe/canary.htm
Spain Reexamines Its Outposts
• Before people came from Canary Islands, Spain
sent Brigadier General Pedro de Rivera y Villalon to
inspect northern frontier
– Task: see how Spain could save money and still
maintain control of Texas
• Recommendations
– Combine missions
– Mission and presidio near old Fort St. Louis be moved closer to San
Antonio
– Reduce number of Spanish troops at presidios
• What Spain did
– Reduced troops only
» What would result of reducing troops mean?
Reexamine Outposts, con’t
• Reduction in troops meant
– Missions vulnerable to attacks by Indians…mainly
Apaches
– Priests asked government to suppress Apache
raids with military force…government ignored
request…Apaches skilled fighters and Spanish
troops could not defeat them
– Suppress: use military force to put an end to
something
Reexamine Outposts, con’t
• Without military protection, missions in East
Texas would not survive
• So, several missions were moved to San
Antonio and to city of Goliad (near San
Antonio River)
SPANISH MISSIONS IN SOUTH TEXAS, 1700–1749
France No Longer Presents a Threat
• With Spain very in control of Texas, relationship with
France got better…for awhile
• Stream between Los Adaes and Natchitoches called Arroyo
Hondo became unofficial boundary between Spanish Texas
and French Louisiana
• Spain focused on missionary work and on establishing
colonies
• French continued trading with Caddoes and later with
Wichitas and several other tribes
San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and Missions Trail
http://www.americansouthwest.net/texas/san_antonio_missions/historical_park.html
http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/play/history-heritage/san-antoniomissions/index.aspx
http://www.texasexplorer.com/SanAntonioMissions.htm
El Camino Real
The Kings Highway
Old San Antonio Road
http://www.elcaminorealtx.com/
http://www.nps.gov/elte/historyculture/index.htm
http://www.elcaminorealdelostejas.org/trail_history
http://www.toledo-bend.com/sabineco/history/index.asp?request=elcamino
http://www.texasalmanac.com/topics/history/origins-camino-real-texas
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/exo04
Section 3
Spanish Expansion in Texas
Now that France was no longer a threat, Spain
could establish more missions and settlements
in Texas. However, Native American groups
challenged the Spaniards claim to the land in the
north and west. Spain needed fewer, stronger
colonies to protect its claim.
Northward Expansion Fails
• 1745: Tonkawa Indians in Central Texas asked Spanish officials to
send missionaries and soldiers to help protect them from Comanche
raids
• Spain saw this request as an opportunity to expand its northern
boundaries
• As part of expansion, Spain established 3 missions and a presidio in
Central Texas
– Expansion: enlarging the boundaries of an area
– Missions:
• San Francisco Xavier de Horcasitas (1748)
• San Ildefonso and Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria (1749)
– Presidio:
• San Francisco Xavier
– One name for all 3 missions and presidio: San Xavier
Northward Expansion Fails, con’t
• New settlement of San Xavier not successful
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Priests argued with commander of presidio
Drought hit area
Diseases killed Tonkawas
Tonkawas refused to help at missions
Apaches attacked San Xavier
• 1757: Spain abandoned settlement and missions
moved to Guadalupe and San Saba Rivers
Expanding Spain’s Control
• Mid 1700s: Spain’s last expansion program
– Goals
• Run French traders out of East Texas
– French traders were becoming a problem in East Texas
– Spain built presidios near Sabine and Trinity Rivers to keep French
out
• Secure Spain’s claim on South Texas by establishing
settlements
– 1748: Count Jose de Escandon set out with 3000 settlers, soldiers,
and priests to settle lands between Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers
» Established 15 missions
» Moved some missions/presidios to other locations
– By 1755, he had placed over 6000 people in 20 towns in South
Texas…one was Laredo
» Much of this land was given to ranchers who lived south of the
Rio Grande (in New Spain)…now known as the Rio Grande
Valley of South Texas
PROVINCES OF NEW SPAIN, 1755
Spain Encounters Trouble in the West
• Spain was interested in settling areas of West
Texas
– Established presidios/missions near Menard, TX
and San Saba, TX
Presidio at San Saba
Presidio at Menard
http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/MenardTexas/MenardTx.htm
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/presidio/index.html
Spain Encounters Trouble in the West,
con’t
• Spain knew they had to establish peaceful
relations with Indians in the area
– Started with Lipan Apaches
• Lipan Apaches had requested a mission and military
help to protect them from the Comanches and
Wichitas…also they promised to adopt mission way of
life
http://www.manataka.org/images/Lipan%20Apache%20camp.jpg
Spain Encounters Trouble in the West, con’t
• But, even after San Saba mission was built, Lipans only came
to mission to get food and gifts…
– then they left and lived their normal life
– Sometimes they stole horses and other things that belonged to
priests
– Priests were never able to convert Lipans to Christianity
• When Comanches heard about arrangement that Lipans
made with Spanish, they sent 2000 Comanches to San Saba
Mission…claiming they came in peace
– But, once they got inside the mission, the Comanches started
killing Spaniards/priests at mission
– Attacked mission again a year later…killed soldiers and stole
horses and cattle
– Goal of Comanches: to drive Spanish out of their territory
– **Read “Texas Tidbits” on page 133
Spaniards Seek Revenge
• Spain knew they had to seek revenge against
the Comanches so they wouldn’t look weak
to other tribes
• 1759: Spanish Colonel Ortiz Parilla led group of 500
Spanish soldiers to attack the Comanches
– October, 1759: Spanish soldiers fought a combined group
of Comanches/Wichitas near San Saba
• Parilla and his men were defeated by Indians
• Abandoned Mission San Saba permanently
• Eventually, all of the missions in the area were abandoned
– Indians not willing to change
http://www.nps.gov/pais/historyculture/spanish.htm
More Problems Arise
• For the most part, Spain’s attempts to expand
north and west of San Antonio River were
unsuccessful
– Missionary efforts failed
– Indian attacks resulted in Spain being humiliated and
appearing weak
• Other problem
– After French/Indian War ended in 1763, Spain acquired
all of French Louisiana west of Mississippi River
• Area was too large for Spain to develop or defend
• Settlers from other parts of US began moving in
Rubi Inspects
Spanish Territory
• King of Spain knew things had to change if Spain
wanted to maintain control of Spain’s lands in
North America
• So, he sent the Marques de Rubi (a Spanish officer)
to check out the North American land
– Rubi checked out all of Spain’s northern frontier…from California to Texas
– Checked out all major settlements
– Recommendation:
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move all Spanish settlements in East Texas to San Antonio
– French no longer a threat so East Texas missions and presidios were no longer needed
• Close down all missions and presidios in West Texas
– Couldn’t convert Indians
• Move capital city of province of Texas from Los Adaes to San Antonio
• Form an alliance with the Comanches and Wichitas to band and wipe out Lipan Apaches
– Alliance: join together for a common purpose
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/dolores/images/rubi-cisneros.jpg
Spain Makes Changes
• King of Spain OK’d Rubi’s recommendations but still
had problems
• Lipan Apaches still causing problems
– Spaniards got a French army officer/trader to put a plan
into place that led the Comanches to declare war on Lipan
Apaches in 1779
• A year later, though, Lipan Apaches wanted a peace agreement
– An uneasy peace developed
• Spanish settlers in East Texas didn’t want to leave
– So, in 1779, a group of settlers led by Gil Ybarbo founded
the community of Nacogdoches
• Nacogdoches grew to be 2nd most prosperous town in Spanish
Texas
Gil Ybarbo
http://image1.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2010/116/51569030_127235617567.jpg
Nacogdoches, TX
http://www.bestplaces.net/images/city/nacogdoches_tx.gif
El Mesquite
• Read story on page 136-137