Spanish Texas Era 1750 to 1821
This phase of the Spanish Colonial Era (1750–1821) marks the transition from a mission-focused frontier to a ranching-based society. It was a time of massive geopolitical shifts, including the rise of the Comanche Empire, the loss and regain of the Louisiana territory, and the violent birth of Mexican independence.
1751–1754
Expansion and Friction: Spanish-Texan settlers continue to push into the San Saba River area. However, the Comanche begin moving into the region from the north, viewing the Spanish and their Apache allies as intruders.
1750
1751
1752
1753
1754
1755
Laredo Established: Tomás Sánchez founds Laredo on the Rio Grande. It becomes a vital ranching hub, connecting the Texas interior to the markets of Mexico.
1756
The Search for Protection: The Lipan Apache, facing near-extermination by the Comanche, plead with the Spanish to build a mission and presidio in their territory for protection.
1757
San Sabá Mission Founded: In a risky move, the Spanish establish Mission Santa Cruz de San Sabá for the Apache. Spanish-Texan soldiers are wary, as the mission is deep in "Comanchería" territory.
1758
The San Sabá Massacre: Over 2,000 Comanche and Wichita warriors, armed with French trade guns, destroy the San Sabá mission. This event proves that Spanish steel and stone are no match for the Comanche Empire's mounted warfare.
1759
Battle of the Spanish Fort: A Spanish retaliatory force of 500 men is defeated by a coalition of Native Nations (the "Norteños") flying a French flag. Spain realizes it no longer controls the northern frontier.
1760–1761
Missions in Decline: As raids increase, the mission system in Central and East Texas begins to crumble. The Spanish-Texan population retreats further behind the walls of the San Antonio and La Bahía presidios.
1760
1761
1762
The Louisiana Transfer: In the secret Treaty of Fontainebleau, France cedes Louisiana to Spain. Overnight, the "French threat" disappears, but Texas loses its primary purpose as a buffer zone.
1763
End of the Seven Years' War: The Treaty of Paris confirms Spanish control of Louisiana. Spain now owns the entire center of the North American continent, yet lacks the people to settle it.
1764–1766
The Marqués de Rubí Inspection: Spain sends Rubí to inspect the frontier. He finds the missions failing and the presidios in tatters, recommending a "New Line" of defense along the Rio Grande.
1764
1765
1766
1767–1768
The New Regulations: Based on Rubí’s report, Spain orders the abandonment of East Texas. Spanish-Texan settlers who had lived there for generations are forced to relocate to San Antonio.
1767
1768
1769–1771
Resistance to Relocation: Led by Antonio Gil Y'Barbo, the East Texas settlers refuse to stay in San Antonio. They miss the lush forests and their trade relationships with the Caddo.
1769
1770
1771
1772
San Antonio as Capital: Official orders make San Antonio the capital of Texas, replacing Los Adaes. Spanish-Texan families like the Seguíns and Navarros begin to emerge as the town's political elite.
1773
The "Forgotten" Settlers: Y'Barbo’s group is finally allowed to move back eastward, but only as far as the Trinity River, where they establish a small, struggling settlement.
1774–1778
Frontier Diplomacy: Athanase de Mézières, a Frenchman now working for Spain, travels among the Native Nations. He negotiates peace with the Wichita and Waco tribes, though the Comanche remain hostile.
1774
1775
1776
1777
1778
1779
Refounding of Nacogdoches: Gil Y'Barbo and his followers move back to their original lands and found Nacogdoches. This establishes the permanent Spanish-Texan presence in East Texas that persists to this day.
1780–1784
The Great Cattle Drive: To support the American Revolution against Britain, Spanish-Texan vaqueros drive thousands of head of cattle from San Antonio and Goliad to Spanish troops in Louisiana and Florida.
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
Peace with the Comanche: Spanish officials sign a landmark treaty with the Comanche. Spain agrees to provide annual gifts and trade, while the Comanche agree to stop raiding San Antonio. This usher in a "Long Peace."
1786–1789
The Rise of the Vaquero: With the Comanche threat neutralized, the ranching economy explodes. The Spanish-Texan vaquero culture—complete with saddles, lariats, and chaps—becomes the primary economic driver of the province.
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790–1793
Secularization Begins: The Spanish Crown orders the missions to be "secularized." Mission lands are distributed to Spanish-Texan and Indigenous families, officially ending the era of the friars' dominance.
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
The End of the Missions: San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) is officially secularized. Its buildings are repurposed for military use, eventually housing a flying company of Spanish soldiers from Álamo de Parras (the origins of the Texas Rangers). It is also thought the Alamo gets its name from this group.
1795–1799
The Filibuster Shadows: Rumors of American "filibusters" (illegal adventurers) begin to reach Texas. Anglo-Texan precursors like Philip Nolan enter the province to catch wild horses, making the Spanish government deeply nervous.
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800
The Secret Treaty: Spain is forced to cede Louisiana back to Napoleon’s France. The buffer zone is lost once again, and the aggressive expansion of the young United States is now a direct threat.
1801–1802
The Death of Philip Nolan: Spanish soldiers kill the horse-trader Philip Nolan near present-day Waco. He is considered the first of many Anglo-Texans who would challenge Spanish authority.
1801
1802
1803
The Louisiana Purchase: The United States buys Louisiana from France. Suddenly, Spanish-Texans find themselves sharing a border with a land-hungry American nation that claims the border is the Rio Grande, not the Sabine.
1804–1805
Militarization: Spain pours thousands of troops into Texas to guard the border. San Antonio becomes a garrison town, putting a massive strain on the local Spanish-Texan food supply and economy.
1804
1805
1806
The Neutral Ground Agreement: To avoid war, U.S. and Spanish generals create a "Neutral Ground" between the Sabine River and the Arroyo Hondo. It becomes a lawless haven for outlaws and deserters.
1807–1809
Napoleonic Chaos: Napoleon invades Spain and imprisons the King. This creates a power vacuum in the colonies. Spanish-Texan elites begin to wonder if they should rule themselves.
1807
1808
1809
1810
Father Hidalgo’s Grito: In Mexico, Father Miguel Hidalgo launches the War of Independence. The spark reaches Texas, where many Spanish-Texans sympathize with the cause of liberty.
1811
The Casas Revolt: Juan Bautista de las Casas leads a pro-independence coup in San Antonio, arresting the Spanish Governor. However, loyalist Spanish-Texans eventually recapture the town and execute Casas.
1812
Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition: An army of American filibusters and Spanish-Texan revolutionaries (The Republican Army of the North) invades Texas, capturing Nacogdoches and Goliad.
1813
The Battle of Medina: The bloodiest battle in Texas history. A Spanish Royalist army crushes the revolutionaries south of San Antonio. Over 1,000 men are killed, and the Spanish-Texan population is decimated by subsequent executions.
1814–1818
The Desolate Frontier: Following the Battle of Medina, Texas is nearly empty. The Comanche, seeing the Spanish weakness, resume massive raids. San Antonio and Goliad are the only remaining outposts of civilization.
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
The Adams-Onís Treaty: The U.S. and Spain finally agree on a border (the Sabine River). In exchange, the U.S. gives up its claim to Texas—but many Americans in the Neutral Ground refuse to accept the deal.
1820
The Moses Austin Request: A bankrupt American named Moses Austin arrives in San Antonio. With the help of Spanish-Texan friend Erasmo Seguín, he petitions the Spanish Governor to settle 300 families in Texas to rebuild the province.
1821
Mexican Independence: Mexico wins its freedom from Spain. Texas is no longer a Spanish province but a state in the new Mexican Republic. Spanish-Texan residents begin to call themselves Texans, looking toward a future of cooperation with the incoming Anglo-Texan settlers.