TEJANO HEROES OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION

JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO

By the end of the 17th century, Spain became fearful of the possibility of French settlement in the portion of New Spain known as Texas.  Reacting from concern as to what could be seen as a possible challenge to her suzerainty, Spain recruited subjects to settle  into three presidios  or fortified areas of Texas, in order to solidify her claim to the vast territory. The regions colonized by the settlers were located to the north in what would be called Nacogdoches, along the Rio Bravo to the south and beside the  San Antonio River, in the Bexar-Goliad region.

Nowadays, the word Tejano is used loosely to include food, music and virtually all Mexican-American residents of Texas.  Utilized more properly in its historical context, however, Tejano refers to the original Spanish settlers of Texas and their descendants.

Coming from the Spanish creole culture of Mexico, the Tejanos established their own unique way of life in adapting to the severe conditions encountered in Texas.  With the challenges of a harsh climate and the ever-present danger from indigenous attacks, the Tejano social order became one in which much emphasis was placed on the individual's ability to survive and flourish  against significant odds .

It has oft been said that every generation forms its own view of history, sometimes at the expense of fact and accuracy.  A widespread view encountered in many quarters of Texas today is that the idea of detaching Texas from Spain - and later from Mexico - was a scheme that was exclusively Anglo in its origination. However, as is so often the case, a closer look at history reveals a totally different picture.

In 1811, after his revolution was on the ropes and before he was betrayed and taken prisoner in Coahuila, Padre Hidalgo was fleeing Mexico for Texas, where he likely hoped to gain support from the Tejanos.  Also in 1811, there was a failed uprising against Spain in San Antonio de Bexar.  Finally, in 1813, Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara set up a short-lived Republic of the North at Nacognoches, which was quickly defeated  at the Battle of the Medina, the bloodiest battle ever on Texas soil, during which more than 1,400 revolutionaries lost their lives to a crack Spanish army under General Joaquin de Arredondo in fighting south of San Antonio de Bexar.  A 19-year-old junior officer in Arredondo's army was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

By 1821, Mexico had gained its independence from Spain; and, after the short-lived emperorship of  Agustin Iturbide, a federal constitution modeled on the constitution of the United States took effect in 1824. Although the new Mexican constitution reserved a favored position for the Roman Catholic Church, it formed a government which was structured around the concept of division of powers in the form of separate executive, judicial and legislative branches.

During the 1830's, Mexico's leadership took a drastic turn to the right, and the person of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became paramount in an effort to centralize power in Mexico City and to quash the 1824 constitution.  Rebellions sprang up in several Mexican states, including Coahuila y Tejas, in response to what would shortly become an all out effort in Mexico City to replace federal states with centrally controlled departments.  The erstwhile governor of Coahuila y Texas, Agustin Viesca, fled from Saltillo to Texas, where he joined his friend, Stephen F. Austin, in the effort to create an independent Texas.  

JOSE FRANCISCO RUIZ

ANTONIO DE ZAVALA

The fall of 1835 witnessed unremitting warfare between Texas revolutionaries and Mexico. On March 2, 1836, Texas declared independence.  Of those who were signatories to the declaration, three were former Hispanic citizens of Mexico:  Jose Antonio Navarro, Jose Francisco Ruiz and Lorenzo de Zavala.  Zavala, who had presided over the drafting of the Mexican Constitution of 1824 and had served as a minister in the Mexican government, would become an interim vice-president of the new republic, and, along with Navarro and Ruiz, would take a leading role in the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Texas.

JUAN SEGUIN

Tejanos, including Brigido Guerrero,an ancestor of my wife, were prominent in the storming of Bexar in 1835, and there were 8 Tejanos at the Alamo:  Jose Maria Esparza, Antonio Fuentes, Jose Toribio Lesoya, Andres Nava, Juan Abamillo, Juan Badillo, Jose Maria Guerrero, and Juan Seguin.  Of the 8, Seguin would live to fight and distinguish himself at San Jacinto and eventually be promoted to colonel and serve as a senator of the Texas Republic and mayor of San Antonio.  Although forced to serve in the Mexican army during the Mexican war, Seguin returned to Texas, where he served as a county judge and a justice of the peace.

Of the several prominent Tejano families that opposed Santa Anna, none was more renowned than the de Leon family of Victoria.  The sons and sons-in-law of Martin de Leon, including Jose Maria Jesus Carabal, Placido Benavides, and Silvestre de Leon, led military forces and supported the cause with their resources.  Benavides, owing to his long ride in alerting ranchers in south Texas to the approach of Santa Anna, became known as the "Paul Revere of Texas."   Like several Tejano families in Texas, the de Leons, despite their strong opposition to Santa Anna, opposed independence.

At the time of independence, there were no more than 4,000 Tejanos in Texas.  In terms of their support for the war against Santa Anna, they accounted for a greater proportion of their numbers participating in the revolution than a corresponding percentage of Anglos who were actively engaged.

In the loss of Texas, there were probably 2 factors that negatively affected Mexico more than any others:

1. Political instability early on became a way of life for Mexico. In the first 27 years of Mexican independence, there were 50 separate governments under various heads of state.  Santa Anna himself would serve on 11 occasions as head of state.  Unfortunately,  Spain had not bequeathed a legacy of participation to the creoles who tried to govern in the early years of Mexican independence

2. Most Mexicans were reluctant to endure the harsh conditions of life in Texas.  Therefore, the enormous land mass of Texas was open to settlement from non-Mexican quarters, and hardy Anglo-Saxons were more than happy to test their mettle in Texas

Despite their relatively small numbers, the Tejanos had an immense cultural influence.  From food and dress to architecture, agriculture and ranching, the uniqueness of Texas is indebted to the Tejanos.  Clearly, the Tejano influence is alive and well today; and, just as clearly, the outcome of the venture that culminated in the Lone Star Republic would have been more uncertain without the Tejano heroes of the Texas Revolution.