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Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca who was shipwrecked on the Texas coast in late 1528. He was the first white man to travel Texas and record details of its land and inhabitants. He finally returned to Spanish civilization in 1536. 
In 1684 the intrepid French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle landed on the Texas coast and claimed the region for France 
. He built a fort, explored some but was murdered by a gang of mutineers, after which the colony fell to ruin by infighting and Indian attack
. He built a fort, explored some but was murdered by a gang of mutineers, after which the colony fell to ruin by infighting and Indian attack
This French incursion was very significant to Texas history as it prompted the Spanish, who had long claimed Texas but done nothing about it, to build a string of presidios and missions to occupy and defend the province from foreign attack.
In 1686 Spanish troops led by Alonso de León "El Mozo", marched into Texas to eliminate LaSalle’s French incursion. They found there was no need but eventually de León established the first mission in east Texas, San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690, the second in all of a Texas.
In 1691 Domingo Terán de los Ríos was appointed the first Spanish governor of Texas. He traveled across the state from the Rio Grande to the Red River but founded no missions, feeling he could find no place without an unhealthy climate or hostile inhabitants.
Early Spanish efforts to occupy Texas were mostly thwarted by the hostile Indians. However, when a Franciscan missionary tried to enlist the help of the French governor of Louisiana, the Spanish got serious and built missions and presidios in Texas in the early 1700’s.
In the War of the Quadruple Alliance (that weird one where France & England were on the same side) saw empires clash in Texas. In June 1719, 7 Frenchmen from Natchitoches captured mission San Miguel de los Adaes. It was held by one Spanish soldier who hadn’t heard about the war.
The 7 French soldiers said a hundred more were coming and the Spanish fled east Texas to San Antonio. However, the Spanish governor gathered a large force and expelled the French from Texas without loss of life. A new, stronger, fortified base was established in the region.
With no French threat, the Spanish presence in Texas was reduced to 144 soldiers & most missions relocated to the San Antonio area where they were attacked by the Lipan Apaches and, after securing an uneasy peace with them, with their more aggressive enemies such as the Comanche
Spain’s minimal military defense fell to a small group of very rugged presidial cavalry known as soldados de cuera because of the leather sleeveless jackets they wore. They were expert Indian fighters, adapting to their tactics and circumstances.
minimal military defense fell to a small group of very rugged presidial cavalry known as soldados de cuera because of the leather sleeveless jackets they wore. They were expert Indian fighters, adapting to their tactics and circumstances.
