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Massanet was a Catholic church official that went, with friars and a hundred soldiers, to East Texas.Their goal was to spread Christianity throughout Texas and to the Natives. The first Spanish mission was named San Francisco de los Tejas. It was set west of the Neches River. After a sickness that killed many, Natives blamed the illness on Holy water, and rejected the religion.
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This mission was first located 35 miles from the Rio Grande, but the Spanish decided to move it after a few months for better setting - only 5 miles from the Rio Grande. From then it grew much bigger and included, three missions, a presidio, and a town. The soldiers protected travelers and fought Natives when needed. The mission gave grain and cattle to other settlements. It was given the name "The Gateway to Spanish Texas."
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A San Juan Bautista missionary, Father Francisco Hidalgo, who asked the Spanish officials to rebuild this mission, they said no. He then went to the french governor, who liked the idea, and he agreed. The letter he said was in secret because he would be in a lot of trouble if his officials found out. The governor appointed Louis de St. Denis to persuade with Spanish officials. Since the french were unexpected, Captain Diego Ramon arrested St. Denis.
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After the french declared war, they took over the nearest mission, San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes. Their plan was not all successful because two men escaped and told Spain what was going to happen. New Spain turned to Marqués de San Miguel de Aguayo to meet with the French forces, but it was delayed for two years.
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Deciding they needed a better route from the Rio Grande to East Texas missions. The Spanish chose a spot along the San Antonio River because it was between the two. Presidio San Antonio de Béxar is what they called it. Work was oversaw by Martín de Alarcón. They settlement began to grow and later became a town.
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Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares founded mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission chapel that was there, is now known as the Alamo.
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Antonio Margil de Jesus founded missions like Senora de los Dolores and San Miguel de los Adaes in 1716. In 1720, he founded the most successful mission in Texas, San José y San Miguel de Aquayo.
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Aguayo took over 500 soldiers and a thousand horses and mules and marched into Texas. He built a large presidio next to a French post, Natchitoches. He readied it with 100 soldiers and 6 cannons. St. Denis was mad and claimed the presidio was on French ground, but did nothing about it. They ruled their settlements for almost a century, and Aguayo established the nonofficial capital of Texas as Los Adaes and it stayed that way for 50 years.
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To strengthen their hold on Texas, Aguayo sent a small military group to build a presidio near La Salle's old fort. La Bahia was set near Matagorda Bay. A mission was later established next to it called Mission La Bahia.
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He was a military commander from Spain that took charge of territory from northern Mexico to the San Antonio River. That area was called Nuevo Santander. Escadon made his mark by founding 20 settlements there. He was called 'The Father of the Lower Rio Grande River."
