Tejano History
Los Adaes
Tejanos |
LOS ADAES. Los Adaes was for more than half a century the easternmost establishment in Spanish Texas. Its primary purpose was to block French encroachment upon Spain's southwestern possessions. Including both San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes Mission and Nuestra Señora del Pilar Presidio, the settlement conformed to the Spanish practice of utilizing these frontier institutions in combination both to serve and to control local Indians. The mission at Los Adaes was founded by Domingo Ramón by 1717 but was abandoned in 1719 when threatened by the French. The reestablishment of the Spanish presence, near the location of present-day Robeline, Louisiana, occurred under the direction of the Marqués de Aguayo. His expedition established the presidio and reoccupied the mission at Los Adaes in 1721. Upon completing his task Aguayo left the continued enactment of Spanish frontier policy to a few Franciscans and 100 cavalry troops. Eight years later, in 1729, two decisions by Spanish authorities further defined the character of Los Adaes. The Viceroy's Regulation of that year designated Los Adaes as the capital of Texas. In addition, the garrison was reduced to sixty to lessen the expense of defending the Spanish frontier in North America.
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Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online
Courtesy of the Texas State Historical Association.
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