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Los Adaes,
TexasNamed
for a friendly group of Indians, this all-but-forgotten capital of Texas – remains
in place - in Louisiana.
The
purpose of the Spanish in forming Los Adaes was to check the encroachment of the
French into Spanish territory. This plan called for the pairing of a fort (presidio)
with a mission. The military protected the mission and the mission fed the garrison
– through the farming efforts of the Indians – whose souls were being saved by
the priests. |
| In this particular
case the fort was the Nuestra Señora del Pilar Presidio and the mission
was named San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes. The Adaes Indians were sworn
enemies of the Lipan Apaches – constant thorns in the side of Spanish settlement
in western Texas. |
Presidio
Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adais Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2010 |
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Initial
founding of the settlement (by Domingo Ramon) occurred in 1717 but the site was
abandoned two years later when the French showed signs of aggression. Reestablishment
occurred in 1721 near present-day Robeline, Louisiana. The man in charge
was the Marques de Aguayo. Aguayo established the presidio and reoccupied
the abandoned mission.
His work done, Aguayo left to pursue other duties,
leaving a detachment of 100 mounted troops to protect a handful of Franciscan
priests. The “success” of Los Adaes resulted in its being declared the capital
of Texas in 1729 by the Spanish Viceroy.
That same year the garrison
was reduced from 100 to 60 troops – in a cost saving measure. The friendly Indians
protected the settlement from the hostiles, although they resisted living at the
mission, preferring to live in scattered villages. In 1768 the overseeing College
of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Zacatecas acknowledged its difficulties
by abandoning all missionary efforts.
Los Adaes and other Spanish settlements
in East Texas were so isolated and
distant from New Spain – that they were forced to trade with the French at Natchitoches
– the enemies they were sent to blockade. Even the Spanish acknowledged that it
was easier to trade (foodstuffs) with the French than to supply their thinly-stretched
colonists.
Over time trade in other goods developed – despite the frowns
of Spanish officials – and Los Adaes became virtually dependent upon the French
settlement.
In 1762 French Louisiana was transferred to New Spain and
ten years later the capital of Texas was transferred to the slightly-less-distant
San Antonio de Béxar (present-day San
Antonio).
The estimated 500 residents of Los Adaes were ordered to
relocate. Some moved and some never left. The Adaesans eventually gravitated back
the region and lifestyle they had grown to love and established what would become
Nacogdoches. |
Los
Adaes State Historic Site
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2010 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, and vintage/historic
photos of their town, please contact
us. |
| Los
Adaes - Texas Escapes' 2500th Town, June 29, 2010 |
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