The Comanche Nation....

[mootsman]

I'm reading a newly released book:

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History

Whoa! What a read. I'm stunned at my ignorance about this aspect of history. Never had a notion of the degree that the Comanches repulsed the Spanish and prevented western movement of settlers for a 100 years in what is now Texas. And I am a voracious reader of history. I think I now grasp the concept of a warrior nation.

[Indianasmith]

T.R Fehrenbach wrote a powerful history of the Comanche quite a few years back. He's an old school Texas historian, but he had a lot of respect for them. It's a great read.

[Maumee Bay]

That's why they were know as the spoilers of the Spanish empire !!!!
Paul

[comanche]

Nice Moots,,,I am glad that this Work has Been a good Mark in your History Lesson.
I am very proud of my Comanche Heritage,,,It is definatly a main tool in my tool box,,When I set my mind to something I usually get it done.I owe this to my strong Indian Beliefs.
Comanche in Translation Means:More man,,whole,true warrior./comanche

[mootsman]

Whoops meant "voracious" reader of history not vociferous.


The Comanches were indeed a very hard people. While some of their raids gained national attention due to their astonishing ferocity the author sets it in the context of the millions of aboriginals that had died at the hands of the spanish over the preceding 150 years. Settlers continued to move into the borders of the Comanche nation apparently knowing full well the possible consequences should they be taken captive. The author suggests that Mexico encouraged this settler migration as a means of building a buffer between them (the Spanish) and the Comanches. Interestingly, if this is factual then the Comanches were at least indirectly responsible for what eventually lead to the Republic of Texas. Against this backdrop he tells the story of Quanah Parker and the sad tale of his twice captured white mother.

I will definitely be reading T.R Fehrenbach's work.

[comanche]

Yes Moots the Comanche Caused much havoc to the settlement of this graet nation,Known as the "Last hold outs".Quanah was a great Politician in both the Indian circles,and later in the white-mans world.
He was able to organize most of the tribes to produce some of the most fierced battles of the Indian Campains.This is at the time when tribes who normally did not get along,,banded together under Quanah,,,He would fight at the front,,, Like a true warrior.
It is an interesting fact about the sell outs,,The Tonkawa,,,they scouted for the Rangers trying to track down these hold outs.The Tonks ran to the Missions for Food and blankets,,,,and in 1975 there were only 5 pure blood Tonkawas left to record,,,,Karma is a mother,,,,when the Comanche live on STRONG,,it just goes to show that God has a plan../comanche

[Indianasmith]

The Tonks were also known to dine on Comanche and Apache, when they could.

[mootsman]

Originally Posted by comanche

Yes Moots the Comanche Caused much havoc to the settlement of this graet nation,Known as the "Last hold outs".Quanah was a great Politician in both the Indian circles,and later in the white-mans world.

My wife and I read a novel about Quanah many years ago that stuck with me but it didn't really focus on the Comanche's ability to halt the Spanish and the Texas area emigrants. When I read in this book about his political achievements in as you mention both white and Indian circles, it is amazing that it took so long for a best selling book to tell his story. Sitting Bull and Geronimo seem to have gotten a lot more press. Quanah is really a giant in our country's history and I saw today that this book is number 5 on the New York Time's best seller list!