Spanish Colonial Texas Era 1690-1750
This era, known as the Mission-Presidio Period, was defined by Spain’s reactive attempt to secure Texas as a buffer zone against French Louisiana. It shifted from early failed attempts in East Texas to the establishment of San Antonio as the permanent heart of the province.
1690
First East Texas Missions: Fearing French influence, Alonso de León and Father Damián Massanet establish Mission San Francisco de los Tejas. The Spanish expedition relies on the Hasinai Caddo for survival, whom they call "Tejas" (meaning friends).
1691
The First Governor: Domingo Terán de los Ríos is appointed the first governor of Texas. He leads an expedition to East Texas to inspect the missions, but the mission system begins to strain under the weight of poor supplies and local resistance.
1692
The Struggle for Souls: Missionaries try to expand deeper into Caddo territory. However, a smallpox epidemic decimates the Native Nations of the region, leading the Caddo to view the Spanish and their religion with deep suspicion and hostility.
1693
The Great Retreat: Facing starvation and a Caddo uprising, the Spanish burn their missions and flee back to Mexico. For the next 20 years, Texas is largely ignored by Spain—a period often called the "Years of Spanish Neglect."
1694–1698
The Period of Silence: Spain focuses its resources on South America and the Caribbean, leaving the Texas wilderness to the Native Nations. The French-Texan (Louisiana) traders, however, begin moving closer to the border, trading guns and tools for furs.
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
The Gateway Founded: The Spanish establish Mission San Juan Bautista near the Rio Grande. It becomes the "Gateway to Spanish Texas," serving as the launch point for all future expeditions into the interior.
1700
Mission San Francisco de Solano: This mission is founded near the Rio Grande. It will later serve as the foundation for the most famous mission in Texas history—the Alamo.
1701–1708
Frontier Tensions: While the Spanish crown is distracted by European wars, the Apache begin to move southward, putting pressure on both the Spanish at the Rio Grande and the Hasinai in East Texas.
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
Naming San Antonio: An expedition led by Father Olivares and Captain Pedro de Aguirre reaches the San Antonio River. They find a lush area populated by the Coahuiltecan people and name it "San Antonio de Padua."
1710–1713
The French Catalyst: Father Francisco Hidalgo, obsessed with returning to East Texas, writes a secret letter to the French governor of Louisiana, asking for help with missions. This triggers a French merchant, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, to head toward Texas.
1710
1711
1712
1713
1714
St. Denis Arrives: St. Denis reaches San Juan Bautista. His presence alarms the Spanish, proving the French are now a real threat to the border. However, in a twist of fate, he falls in love with and marries the granddaughter of the Spanish commander.
1715
The Ramón Expedition: Spain organizes a massive re-entry into Texas. St. Denis is hired—as a guide for the very Spaniards meant to keep him out—to help re-establish missions in East Texas.
1716
East Texas Re-occupied: The Spanish re-establish six missions and the Presidio Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in East Texas. They hope to block the French, but the Native Nations remain primarily interested in trade, not conversion.
1717
The Supply Problem: The East Texas missions are too far from the Rio Grande. The Spanish-Texan friars beg for a "halfway house" settlement to provide food and safety for travelers.
1718
The Founding of San Antonio: Governor Martín de Alarcón establishes Mission San Antonio de Valero and Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. This creates a permanent middle point for Spanish operations.
1719
The Chicken War: A French unit attacks a small Spanish mission in East Texas, scaring off the priests and capturing chickens. The "attack" causes the Spanish to panic and retreat once again to San Antonio, abandoning East Texas for a second time.
1720
Mission San José: Father Antonio Margil de Jesús establishes Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo in San Antonio. It eventually becomes the "Queen of the Missions" due to its beautiful architecture and agricultural success.
1721
The Aguayo Expedition: The Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo leads a massive force to reclaim East Texas for good. He establishes Presidio Los Adaes (near present-day Robeline, LA), which becomes the first official capital of Texas.
1722
Presidio La Bahía: Aguayo establishes a fort and mission at the site of La Salle’s old Fort St. Louis on the coast to prevent French ships from landing in Matagorda Bay.
1723–1726
Settlement Stabilization: San Antonio begins to grow. The Spanish-Texan soldiers marry local women, and the first permanent civil families begin to farm the land.
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727–1729
Rivera’s Inspection: General Pedro de Rivera inspects the frontier. To save money, he recommends closing several East Texas missions and reducing the number of soldiers, a move that leaves the settlers vulnerable to the Apache.
1727
1728
1729
1730
The Move to San Antonio: Three of the struggling East Texas missions are relocated to San Antonio. They are renamed Concepción, San Juan Capistrano, and San Francisco de la Espada.
1731
The Canary Islanders: Fifty-five colonists from the Canary Islands arrive in San Antonio. They establish the first civil government in Texas and name their town San Fernando de Béxar. Friction begins immediately between these new settlers and the established Spanish-Texan mission friars.
1732–1740
Apache Wars: As Spanish settlement expands, the Apache launch a series of devastating raids on San Antonio. The Spanish are forced to engage in a "war of attrition," as the missions become fortified refuges.
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741–1745
Ranching Roots: With farming difficult due to raids, the missions and settlers turn to cattle ranching. The first massive cattle herds—the ancestors of the Longhorn—begin to roam the brush country south of San Antonio.
1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746–1748
Escandón’s Colony: José de Escandón begins the colonizing of Nuevo Santander (South Texas/Northern Mexico). He establishes dozens of towns along the Rio Grande, including Revilla and Camargo.
1746
1747
1748
1749
La Bahía Moves to Goliad: The coastal mission and presidio are moved to a more defensible location on the San Antonio River (present-day Goliad). This becomes a key military post for the Spanish-Texan defense of the coast.
1750