When did the Spanish abandon the missions in East Texas?
By 1693, Santísimo Nombre de María mission had been washed away by Neches River flood waters and Father Massenet himself had burned San Francisco de los Tejas to the ground. The Spanish abandoned their efforts to establish missions in east Texas.
How did the mission of San Francisco de los Tejas fail?
American Indians didn’t participate in the system, Franciscan friars were killed by hostile actions or disease, and the whole proposal mostly failed. By 1693, Santísimo Nombre de María mission had been washed away by Neches River flood waters and Father Massenet himself had burned San Francisco de los Tejas to the ground.
Why did the missionaries come to Texas in the 1500s?
Missionaries and explorers had been wandering through Texas since the 1500s. The explorers were looking for gold while the missionaries were looking to spread the Gospel to the American Indians.
Who was the Spanish leader in Texas in 1686?
Spanish land in Texas had to be protected from French takeover at all costs. In 1686, Franciscan friar Father Damián Massenet and General Alonso de León, the Spanish embodiments of church and state, headed north from Mexico into Texas. Their first task was to find La Salle and his colony.
Is there such a thing as East Texas?
East Texas Defined The definition of East Texas varies. There’s Upper East Texas and Deep East Texas, and even South East Texas. As a generality, East Texas is considered to be the region east of Interstate 45, and west of the Louisiana border. The northern border is Oklahoma, while the southern edge is the Gulf of Mexico.
Where was the first Spanish settlement in Texas?
On May 1, 1718, the Spanish established a mission-presidio complex approximately midway between the Rio Grande Valley and the missions of East Texas. This was the founding of the city of San Antonio, the most significant Texas settlement of the Spanish era.