264:. Confronted with Spanish, Mexican, and U.S. outposts on their periphery in New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Mexico, they worked to increase their own safety, prosperity and power. According to Hämäläinen, disease was the single most dangerous threat to Native Americans. The Comanche managed to avoid disease, which gave them an upper hand over the Apaches and other tribes in this area. Along with this, the Comanche were able to exchange goods with Europeans. The main thing exchanged for that gave them power was horses. Horses gave the Comanches more military power, and allowed them to hunt more buffalo. The Comanches used this military power to obtain more supplies and labor from the
53:
362:
the ability to invade
Comancheria and attack the Comanche homeland; Mexico, by contrast, was rich in horses and unable to counterattack due to distance and the fact that, after 1836, any Mexican military expedition against Comanches would have had to pass through Texas, a republic whose independence Mexico did not recognize. In attacking Mexico, the Comanche seemed motivated by opportunity, economics and revenge – their animosity toward non-Comanches sharpened by decades of war and reprisals. Thus, their raids on Mexico became increasingly bloody and destructive.
817:
245:
272:, and Indians through thievery, tribute, and kidnappings. Although powered by violence, the Comanche empire was primarily an economic construction, rooted in an extensive commercial network that facilitated long-distance trade. Dealing with subordinate Indians, the Comanche spread their language and culture across the region.
632:
Despite its modest beginnings, the
Comanche exodus to the southern plains is one of the key turning points in early American history. It set off a half-century-long war with the Apaches and resulted in the relocation of Apacheria - a massive geopolitical entity in its own right - from the grasslands
293:
With their western flank secured by an unthreatening New Mexico, the
Comanche dealt with rivals on their northern and eastern borders. In 1835, they met with a delegation of U.S. soldiers and eastern Indians in the Wichita Mountains of Oklahoma and concluded a peace agreement. The agreement permitted
280:
colony. Conditions in this colony were similar to how they were in
Comancheria when it was winter in the north. Eventually, there was a drought, and Comancheria and the Bolson colony struggled. Along with this, the Comanche empire collapsed after their villages were repeatedly decimated by epidemics
361:
The agreements with the United States and neighboring tribes, as well as the hiatus in the struggle with Texas, freed up the
Comanche to make unrestrained war on the Mexican provinces south of the Rio Grande. The 1830s demonstrated that the Texans, the United States, and neighboring tribes all had
302:
pressing on them from the north. It was highly favorable to the
Cheyenne and Arapaho. They were permitted to reside and hunt on the buffalo and horse-rich Comanche lands and, in addition, the affluent Comanches gave them gifts, including as many as six horses to every Cheyenne and Arapaho man. The
284:
The
Comanche resolved most of the challenges facing them in the 1830s with adroit diplomacy. Their strategy was flexible. With New Mexico, a Mexican province to their west, they enjoyed friendly trading relations. New Mexico was more of an asset than a threat to the Comanches, and the New Mexicans
289:
was ordered by the
Mexican central government to join a military campaign against the Comanche, but Armijo declined. "To declare war on the Comanches would bring complete ruin to the Department of New Mexico." In 1844, New Mexican officials learned of but did nothing to prevent a Comanche raid on
52:
370:
To the west, southwest and southeast of the
Comancheria stretched the vast territories of the various hostile Apache groups, partially overlapping and forming a kind of no man's land, which was heavily contested between the two peoples. Moreover, the Comanche had to pass through the dangerous
294:
eastern
Indians and the U.S. to hunt on Comanche lands and did not restrain the Comanche and their Kiowa and Wichita allies from making war on Mexico. With their eastern flank secured by the treaty with the U.S., the Comanches next concluded a peace agreement in 1840 with the southern
306:
South and southeast of Comancheria were the fast-growing Anglo-American communities in the Mexican territory of Texas. In the 1820s and 1830s most Comanche raids were in the southern parts of Texas and affected the largely Hispanic population around San Antonio,
275:
By the early 1830s, the Comanche began to run out of resources in Comancheria. At this time, they had been conducting raids deep into Mexico and would take what they got back to Comancheria. In the mid 1830s, the Comanche formed a colony in Mexico called the
303:
Comanche welcome to these two tribes, their southern bands numbering perhaps 4,000, was both an acknowledgment that they were formidable rivals and also that the Comanche were short on men and resources to maintain their control over Comancheria.
57:
The development of Comancheria from 1770 to 1850. Depicted are the shifting core territories of the Comanche, their zones of control, and their extensive raiding zone which extended from
724:
DeLay, Brian, "The Wider World of the Handsome Man: Southern Plains Indians Invade Mexico, 1830-1848." Journal of the Early Republic, Vol. 27, No. 1, Spring 2007, pp. 83–113
358:, and Texas became more accommodating. In 1844, the Texans and the Comanches came to an agreement which recognized Comanche lands and left Comancheria intact.
427:, forced the Comanche to acknowledge the Arkansas River as their northern border. Moreover, the Comanche undertook extensive commercial enterprises to the
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Apacheria on their way down to Mexico for raiding and recross it with plunder. The Oklahoma and Texas panhandles were inhabited by their allies, the
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1142:
1122:
1132:
1127:
1137:
645:
Hämäläinen, Pekka (2021). "The Kinetic Empires of Native American Nomads". In Peter Fibiger Bang; C.A. Bayly; Walter Scheidel (eds.).
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140:
1107:
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attending a peace conference in San Antonio in March 1840 set off a series of bloody reprisals and battles. Hundreds of Comanches
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of smallpox and cholera in the late 1840s; causing their population to plunge from 20,000 to just a few thousand by the 1870s.
119:
has argued that the Comancheria formed an empire at its peak, and this view has been echoed by other non-Comanche historians.
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618:
431:
in New Mexico and to the Spanish settlements around San Antonio. In this trade of guns, horses, captives and other goods the
260:
who argues that from the 1750s to the 1850s, the Comanches were the dominant group in the Southwest and developed a form of
604:
257:
226:
in the early 18th century, the lands that became known as Comancheria were home to a multitude of tribes—most notably the
116:
773:
1167:
511:
Montgomery, Lindsay M. (2019). "Nomadic economics: The logic and logistics of Comanche imperialism in New Mexico".
347:
1008:
1157:
1152:
495:
The Politics of Grass: European Expansion, Ecological Change, and Indigenous Power in the Southwest Borderlands
127:
The area was vaguely defined and shifted over time but generally was described as bordered to the south by the
24:
853:
419:. In the southeast settled the erstwhile allies, but after the expulsion of the Apaches of the Plains, rival
1162:
909:
1182:
1172:
1147:
424:
160:
879:
858:
1187:
960:
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889:
874:
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965:
950:
806:
766:
1177:
884:
848:
801:
461:
355:
277:
1023:
351:
327:, was knowledgeable about Indians and favored a policy of accommodation with the Comanche.
111:, 'Comanche land') was a region of New Mexico, west Texas and nearby areas occupied by the
8:
833:
335:
538:
339:
188:
184:
180:
1102:
970:
838:
796:
759:
735:
614:
613:. The Lamar Series in Western History. New Haven: Yale University Press. p. 18.
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77:
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Some historians have begun to consider Comancheria, at the peak of its power, as an
955:
825:
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212:
379:, along with the Comanche. In the northwest of the Comancheria lived the opposing
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748:
Weber, David J. The Mexican Frontier, 1821–1846, Albuquerque: U of NM Press, 1982
729:
608:
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176:
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148:
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in 1840. Although the Texans demonstrated they could defeat the Comanche at the
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asserting independence from Mexico in 1836, the Comanche had to deal with the
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136:
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DeLay, Brian, The War of a Thousand Deserts. New Haven: Yale U Press, 2008
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1018:
998:
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404:
324:
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156:
132:
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also competed against the Comanche in the context of bison hunting. The
572:
466:
432:
380:
164:
62:
647:
The Oxford World History of Empire: Volume Two: the History of Empires
1003:
428:
395:. In addition, in and adjacent to the Comancheria settled the allied
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782:
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400:
384:
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112:
633:
south of the Rio Grande, at the very center of northern New Spain.
1028:
993:
420:
408:
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223:
16:
Former region of the US Southwest occupied by the Comanche people
159:, continuing north along the edge of the Spanish settlements in
1048:
354:, military campaigns emptied their treasury in what became the
253:
227:
200:
66:
244:
435:(Pueblo and New Mexico traders) acted as intermediaries. The
412:
372:
58:
751:
559:
Tutino, John (2013). "4. Globalizing the Comanche Empire".
330:
Continued Comanche raids led to the election in 1838 of
239:
387:, to the northeast settled the enemy and powerful
230:. Much of the region had previously been known as
679:Beyond the Frontier: Exploring the Indian Country
151:. ComancherĂa was bordered along the west by the
1094:
649:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 1047.
285:avoided war with the Indians. In 1841, Governor
222:Before the Comanche expanded out of present-day
497:. William and Mary Quarterly. pp. 173–208.
256:. This concept was based on ideas developed by
139:to encompass a northern area that included the
37:
767:
506:
504:
334:who favored a more aggressive approach. The
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603:
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243:
391:and in the north the also antagonistic
1113:Indigenous culture of the Great Plains
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558:
365:
1193:Cultural regions of the United States
1143:Former countries of the United States
1123:Native American history of New Mexico
755:
549:
681:. Norman: U of OK Press,1998, p. 185
594:Hämäläinen (2008), pp. 71, 182, 219.
488:
486:
484:
482:
135:, Texas, continuing north along the
1133:Native American history of Colorado
1128:Native American history of Oklahoma
240:Greatest extent and possible empire
13:
14:
1204:
1138:Native American history of Kansas
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187:, western Oklahoma including the
1118:Native American history of Texas
815:
1108:Former empires in North America
715:
702:
693:
684:
671:
662:
653:
638:
597:
588:
579:
336:massacre of 12 Comanche chiefs
25:Hell or High Water (2016 film)
19:For the film previously named
1:
513:Journal of Social Archaeology
472:
217:
910:Second Battle of Adobe Walls
781:
340:descended upon and destroyed
122:
115:before the 1860s. Historian
38:
7:
450:
323:. Texas's first President,
10:
1209:
880:Battle of Palo Duro Canyon
728:Hämäläinen, Pekka (2008).
493:Hämäläinen, Pekka (2010).
210:
206:
18:
1067:
979:
923:
867:
859:Treaty of Tehuacana Creek
854:Meusebach–Comanche Treaty
824:
813:
789:
734:. Yale University Press.
585:Hämäläinen (2008), p. 63.
425:Southern Cheyenne Arapaho
83:
73:
50:
32:
961:Quanah Parker Star House
844:Fort Martin Scott Treaty
659:Hämäläinen (2008), p. 2.
525:10.1177/1469605319859667
447:of the Southern Plains.
411:. In the east lived the
161:Santa Fe de Nuevo MĂ©xico
1168:Geography of New Mexico
1082:Comanche Nation College
875:Battle of Blanco Canyon
1077:Comanche Nation Casino
951:Fort Parker State Park
807:Native American Church
249:
1158:Geography of Colorado
1153:Geography of Oklahoma
915:Comanche Code Talkers
885:Battle of Pease River
849:Medicine Lodge Treaty
462:History of New Mexico
247:
74:Common languages
900:Comanche–Mexico Wars
890:Buffalo Hunters' War
607:(2008). "Conquest".
423:. In the north, the
352:Battle of Plum Creek
1163:Geography of Kansas
834:Cherokee Commission
731:The Comanche Empire
699:Hamalainen, 198-199
610:The Comanche Empire
366:Neighboring peoples
163:. It also included
1183:Texas Hill Country
1173:Eastern New Mexico
1148:Geography of Texas
573:10.1111/hith.10656
561:History and Theory
250:
248:Map of Comancheria
189:Oklahoma Panhandle
185:Eastern New Mexico
181:Texas Hill Country
1090:
1089:
971:Wichita Mountains
839:Comanche Campaign
797:Comanche language
741:978-0-300-12654-9
668:Weber, p. 114–115
620:978-0-300-14513-7
605:Hämäläinen, Pekka
441:Comanche language
356:Texas–Indian Wars
332:Mirabeau B. Lamar
321:Republic of Texas
199:and southwestern
193:Wichita Mountains
109:Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ
93:
92:
78:Comanche language
39:Nʉmʉnʉʉ Sookobitʉ
1200:
980:Notable historic
956:Palo Duro Canyon
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457:Comanche history
317:Texas Revolution
258:Pekka Hämäläinen
213:Comanche history
131:, just north of
117:Pekka Hämäläinen
55:
45:
41:
30:
29:
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1188:Texas Panhandle
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946:Edwards Plateau
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708:Hamalainen, 228
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195:, southeastern
179:(including the
177:Edwards Plateau
173:Texas Panhandle
153:Mescalero Ridge
149:Rocky Mountains
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941:Comanche Trail
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802:Comanche Flute
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519:(3): 333–355.
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415:and later the
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211:Main article:
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169:Llano Estacado
145:Arkansas River
143:and the upper
141:Cimarron River
129:Balcones Fault
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1054:Quanah Parker
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989:Spirit Talker
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936:Blanco Canyon
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905:Red River War
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895:Comanche Wars
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445:Lingua franca
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342:the towns of
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287:Manuel Armijo
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137:Cross Timbers
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88:United States
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84:Today part of
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49:
40:
31:
26:
22:
1178:Great Plains
1070:institutions
1059:White Parker
1044:Carne Muerto
1039:Big Red Meat
1014:Buffalo Hump
930:
730:
716:Bibliography
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695:
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678:
677:Hoig, Stan,
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664:
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631:
624:. Retrieved
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377:Kiowa-Apache
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329:
315:. After the
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292:
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274:
251:
231:
221:
147:east of the
126:
108:
100:
96:
94:
20:
1034:Peta Nocona
1019:Iron Jacket
999:Amorous Man
982:individuals
931:Comancheria
443:became the
433:Comancheros
325:Sam Houston
290:Chihuahua.
262:imperialism
157:Pecos River
133:San Antonio
101:ComancherĂa
97:Comancheria
34:Comancheria
21:Comancheria
1097:Categories
1009:Santa Anna
626:26 October
473:References
467:Comanchero
218:Background
165:West Texas
65:deep into
63:New Mexico
44:(Comanche)
1024:Horseback
1004:Ten Bears
966:Red River
690:DeLay, 80
567:: 67–74.
543:199178641
437:Ciboleros
348:Linnville
266:Americans
233:Apacheria
123:Geography
1103:Comanche
783:Comanche
451:See also
417:Cherokee
401:Tawakoni
385:Shoshone
344:Victoria
296:Cheyenne
270:Mexicans
197:Colorado
191:and the
155:and the
113:Comanche
105:Comanche
1029:Tosahwi
994:Old Owl
868:Warfare
826:History
790:Culture
421:Tonkawa
409:Hasinai
397:Wichita
300:Arapaho
228:Apaches
224:Wyoming
207:History
1068:Tribal
1049:Isatai
924:Places
738:
617:
541:
429:Pueblo
407:, and
393:Pawnee
313:Goliad
309:Laredo
278:Bolson
254:empire
201:Kansas
175:, the
171:, the
167:, the
67:Mexico
42:
23:, see
539:S2CID
413:Caddo
389:Osage
373:Kiowa
59:Texas
736:ISBN
628:2019
615:ISBN
405:Waco
383:and
375:and
346:and
311:and
298:and
95:The
61:and
569:doi
529:hdl
521:doi
381:Ute
183:),
99:or
1099::
630:.
565:52
563:.
551:^
537:.
527:.
517:19
515:.
503:^
481:^
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399:,
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203:.
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571::
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103:(
27:.
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