Manuel Muñoz (Governor of Spanish Texas)
Encyclopedia
Manuel Muñoz was a soldier, a colonel and governor of Texas
between 1790 and 1798.
, Spain
. He was serving as Captain of the Spanish Army
when, in 1759, he temporarily settled in Texas
as the first commander of the Presidio del Norte, which had just been created. The following year, when the prison was attacked by Apache Native American
, he helped repel the attack. Later, in 1775, he acquired the government of Nueva Vizcaya
, while the war between Contingents of American indians
took place, which obeyed to Colonel
Hugo Oconór
. Due to their efforts and their great capacity of defence and governance during the war, Muñoz was appointed Lieutenant Colonel
in 1777 and in 1780, he was promoted to Colonel. In the decades of 1770 and 1780, Muñoz won several stalls along the Rio Grande
, he did business with the Mescalero Apaches, and he got that, together, carry out campaigns against the renegades of the border.
. The following year, Munoz fulfilled with the Decree
of Secularization
of the Mission San Antonio de Valero and the following year he did the same with the decree of "partial secularization" directed to the other four Spanish missions that were carried out in San Antonio. Munoz took the missions for convert to Native Americans who had acquired the Christian religion into independently owned, changing social structure based on race that had established the Spanish. Native Americans gained greater autonomy and no longer had to rely on the Spanish. The common property of the American indians was supervised by the Spanish court or the mayor. In 1793, he founded the mission, Refugio. However, later, 1796, Muñoz fell ill and he asked the king of Spain for permission to retire. Juan Bautista Elguézabal
was designed to help Muñoz until he obtains a response from the king. In January 1797, Muñoz was informed that the governor of Coahuila
(Mexico
), Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante
, had been chosen by the king as his successor, but, however, it decided to command a war against the Apaches, and Munoz had to remain in office as governor until further notice. In March of that year, Cordero sent word that he had been appointed lieutenant governor of Nuevo Santander
, and that therefore he could not govern Texas. A year and a half later, in June 1798 José Irigoyen
was appointed provisional governor of Texas to hold the office of Muñoz. He could not be permanent governor of the province due to illness he was suffering and that prevented him from taking office. Muñoz died on July 27, 1799 in San Antonio.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
between 1790 and 1798.
Early life
Manuel Muñoz was born, in 1730, probably in Matamoros, a city of Castile-La ManchaCastile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was serving as Captain of the Spanish Army
Spanish Army
The Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...
when, in 1759, he temporarily settled in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as the first commander of the Presidio del Norte, which had just been created. The following year, when the prison was attacked by Apache Native American
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
, he helped repel the attack. Later, in 1775, he acquired the government of Nueva Vizcaya
Nueva Vizcaya
Nueva Vizcaya is a province of the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Bayombong. It is bordered by, clockwise from the north, Ifugao, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, and Benguet.-History, people and culture:The name was derived from the...
, while the war between Contingents of American indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
took place, which obeyed to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Hugo Oconór
Hugo Oconór
-External links:*...
. Due to their efforts and their great capacity of defence and governance during the war, Muñoz was appointed Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in 1777 and in 1780, he was promoted to Colonel. In the decades of 1770 and 1780, Muñoz won several stalls along the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, he did business with the Mescalero Apaches, and he got that, together, carry out campaigns against the renegades of the border.
Governor of Texas
In 1790 Muñoz took the post of governor of Texas. In 1792, At the same time that the Count of Sierra investigated his management, Muñoz served as Acting governorActing governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
. The following year, Munoz fulfilled with the Decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
of Secularization
Secularization
Secularization is the transformation of a society from close identification with religious values and institutions toward non-religious values and secular institutions...
of the Mission San Antonio de Valero and the following year he did the same with the decree of "partial secularization" directed to the other four Spanish missions that were carried out in San Antonio. Munoz took the missions for convert to Native Americans who had acquired the Christian religion into independently owned, changing social structure based on race that had established the Spanish. Native Americans gained greater autonomy and no longer had to rely on the Spanish. The common property of the American indians was supervised by the Spanish court or the mayor. In 1793, he founded the mission, Refugio. However, later, 1796, Muñoz fell ill and he asked the king of Spain for permission to retire. Juan Bautista Elguézabal
Juan Bautista Elguézabal
Juan Bautista Elguezabal was governor of Texas from 1800 to 1805. He also ruled this state temporarily in 1797, and Louisiana .- Biography :...
was designed to help Muñoz until he obtains a response from the king. In January 1797, Muñoz was informed that the governor of Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
(Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
), Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante
Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante
Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante was a military man and Spanish politician who served both as Acting governor of Coahuila, in the current Mexico , governor of the same city and acting governor of Texas ....
, had been chosen by the king as his successor, but, however, it decided to command a war against the Apaches, and Munoz had to remain in office as governor until further notice. In March of that year, Cordero sent word that he had been appointed lieutenant governor of Nuevo Santander
Nuevo Santander
Nuevo Santander was a region of the Virreinato de Nueva España, corresponding generally to the modern Mexican state of Tamaulipas and southern Texas. Nuevo Santander was named after Santander, Spain, and settled by Spanish American colonists in a concerted settlement campaign peaking in 1748-1750...
, and that therefore he could not govern Texas. A year and a half later, in June 1798 José Irigoyen
José Irigoyen
José Irigoyen was appointed Spanish Acting governor of Texas in 1798, but he never came to work as governor.- Biography :José Irigoyen was born in the eighteenth century, but the exact date he was born is unknown. The same can be said of where he was born...
was appointed provisional governor of Texas to hold the office of Muñoz. He could not be permanent governor of the province due to illness he was suffering and that prevented him from taking office. Muñoz died on July 27, 1799 in San Antonio.