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Apr 12, 1500
before the 1500
Prior to the arrival of the first European explorers, numerous tribes of the Indians of Texas occupied the region -
Apr 12, 1519
Mid 1519
Sailing from a base in Jamaica. -
Nov 13, 1528
Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked
Cabeza de Vaca shipwrecked on what is believed today to be Galveston Island. -
Apr 13, 1541
1540 to 1542
In search of the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado lead an expedition into the present southwestern United States and across northern Texas. -
18 February 1685
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de LaSalle established Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay, and thus formed the basis for France's claim to Texas. -
1716-1789
Throughout the 18th century, Spain established Catholic missions in Texas, and along with the missions. -
Gutierrez-Magee Expedition
About 130-men strong, the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition crossed the Sabine from Louisiana. -
Jean Laffite occupied Galveston
Jean Laffite occupied Galveston Island and used it as a base for his smuggling and privateering operation. -
Stephen F. Austin
Stephen F. Austin received a grant from the Mexican government and began colonization in the region of the Brazos River. -
The Constitution of 1824
The Constitution of 1824 gave Mexico a republican form of government. -
Relations between the Texans and Mexico
Relations between the Texans and Mexico reached a new low when Mexico forbid further emigration. -
Battle of Velasco
The Battle of Velasco resulted in the first casualties in Texas' relations with Mexico. After several days of fighting, the Mexicans under Domingo de Ugartechea were forced to surrender. -
Texans repulsed a detachment
Texans repulsed a detachment of Mexican cavalry at the Battle of Gonzales. -
The Goliad Campaign of 1835
The Goliad Campaign of 1835 ended when George Collingsworth, Ben Milam, and forty-nine other Texans stormed the presidio at Goliad. -
90 Texans defeated 450 Mexicans
Jim Bowie, James Fannin and 90 Texans defeated 450 Mexicans at the Battle of Concepcion, near San Antonio. -
The Consultation
The Consultation met to consider options for more autonomous rule for Texas. A document known as the Organic Law outlined the organization -
The Texas Declaration of Independence
The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed by members of the Convention of 1836. -
Texans under Col. William B. Travis
Texans under Col. William B. Travis were overwhelmed by the Mexican army after a two-week siege at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio. -
The Texas Congress
The Texas Congress first met in Austin, the frontier site selected for the capital of the Republic. -
The Battle of Plum Creek
The Battle of Plum Creek, near present-day Lockhart, ended the boldest and most penetrating Comanche challenge to the Texas Republic. -
The Texan Santa Fe Expedition
The Texan Santa Fe Expedition set out for New Mexico. Near Sante Fe, they were intercepted by Mexican forces and marched 2000 miles to prison in Mexico City. -
Mexican force of over 500 men under Rafael Vasquez
A Mexican force of over 500 men under Rafael Vasquez invaded Texas for the first time since the revolution. They briefly occupied San Antonio, but soon headed back to the Rio Grande. -
Fall 1842
Sam Houston authorized Alexander Somervell to lead a retaliatory raid into Mexico. The resulting Somervell Expedition dissolved, however, after briefly taking the border towns of Laredo and Guerreo. -
San Antonio was again captured
San Antonio was again captured, this time by 1400 Mexican troops under Adrian Woll. Again the Mexicans retreated, but this time with prisoners. -
Mexican explorer Alonso de Leon
Mexican explorer Alonso de Leon reached Fort St. Louis, and found it abandoned, during an expedition.
