Juan de Acuña, 1st Marquess of Casa Fuerte
Juan de Acuña y Bejarano, 1st Marquess of Casa Fuerte was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain.
Portrait by Juan Rodríguez Juárez
Spanish Texas was one of the interior provinces of the colonial Viceroyalty of New Spain from 1519 until 1821. Spain claimed ownership of the region in 1519. Slave raids by Spaniards into what became Texas began in the 16th century and created an atmosphere of antagonism with Native Americans (Indians) which would cause endless difficulties for the Spanish in the future. Spain did not attempt to establish a permanent presence until after France established the colony of Fort Saint Louis in 1685. In 1688, the French colony failed due to internal dissention and attacks by the Karankawa Indians. In 1690, responding to fear of French encroachment, Spanish explorer Alonso de León escorted several Catholic missionaries to east Texas, where they established the first mission in Texas. That attempt to establish a Spanish colony failed due to the hostility of the Caddo Indians.
Trails taken by Spanish explorers from Mexico into Texas.
Missions in Spanish Texas at the beginning of the Spanish colonization in the area.
Spanish missions within the boundaries of what is now the state of Texas. Land north of the missions was controlled by the Comanche, Apache, Wichita, and Caddo confederacy.
Comanchería prior to 1850. The Comanche shared the land with their allies, the Kiowa, Kiowa Apache, and Wichita.