Franciscan Friars in East Texas

Damian Massanet is the Franciscan behind the 1690 mission. The Handbook of Texas says he was one of 24 priests who sailed in 1683 to help found the College of Santa Cruz de Queretaro, joined Gov. Alonso de Leon's 1689 search for La Salle's Fort St. Louis, and helped establish San Francisco de los Tejas in 1690. He disagreed with De Leon over the size of the guard and later filed a critical report. On October 25, 1693, he and the surviving priests burned the remaining mission and left for Coahuila, reaching Monclova on February 17, 1694.

What the plaque says

Franciscan Friars in East Texas Missionaries of the Franciscan order played an integral role in the administration of Spanish activities throughout Tejas (East Texas). In 1690, Father Damian Massanet (Mazanet) and Captain Alonso de Leon led an entrada to Tejas, and erected the first Spanish mission in the region, San Francisco de los Tejas. The second mission was Mission Santisimo Nombre de la Maria. Both missions served to evangelize native communities, quell French intrusion, and chart the East Texas borderlands. Massanet attempted to foster positive relations with the local Caddo tribes, but the optimistic beginnings of the Presidio and all six missions did not last. Deteriorated relationships, disease and harsh weather caused settlers to abandon the settlement in 1693. In 1716, Franciscan friar Isidro Felix de Espinosa and Captain Domingo Ramon led a second missionary expedition to Tejas. They established Presidio Nuestra Senora de los Dolores de los Tejas and six missions, three under the administration of Espinosa, and the remaining under the control of Father Antonio Margil de Jesus. Despite tolerant coexistence, the missionaries did not find success converting the Caddo to Catholicism, and ultimately settlers fled in 1719 after harassment from French Lt. Philippe Blondel. A third and final effort to missionize East Texas took place under the Governor Don Jose de Azlor y Virto de Vera, the second Marquis de Aguayo. With 500 soldiers, missionaries and laymen in tow, Aguayo resettled the Mission San Francisco de los Neches under the leadership of Espinosa. While the Franciscans never fully evangelized the Tejas, their expeditions legitimized Spanish presence in East Texas. (2015)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Angelina — steps away
• Governor Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo — steps away
• Governor Martin de Alarcon in East Texas — steps away
• Captain Domingo Ramon — steps away