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Main and Military Plazas Historic District
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Spanish Military Governor's Palace
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| Location: | San Antonio, Texas |
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| Built: | 1722 |
| Governing body: | San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department |
| NRHP Reference#: | 79002914 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP: | June 11, 1979[1] |
| Designated HD: | April 15, 1970[2] |
Presidio San Antonio de Béxar was a Spanish fort built near the San Antonio River, located in what is now San Antonio, Texas. It was designed for protection of the mission system and civil settlement in central Texas. It also served to secure Spain's claim to the region from French, English and American aggression.
The presidio (military facility) was founded on May 5, 1718 by Martín de Alarcón, the governor of Coahuila and Texas, on the west side of the San Antonio River about a half mile from its partner Mission San Antonio de Valero. In 1722 the Marqués de Aguayo relocated the presidio almost directly across the river from the mission.[3] The presidio in the early 1700s consisted of one adobe building, roofed with thatched grass, with the soldiers quarters being jacales (brush huts). As settlers concentrated around the presidio and mission complex, the beginnings of La Villa de Béxar (San Antonio) began to form, destined to become the hub of Spanish Texas. Being centrally located, Béxar did not suffer the needs and distresses as did the other presidios. Despite occasional Indian attacks, presidio defending walls or breastworks would never be completed or necessary, as the complementing mission itself would later become the principal unit of walled defense.
In 1726, there were 45 soldiers in the fort and 4 families lived nearby. The total population was about 200. Soldiers quarters and the Spanish Governor's Palace was completed in 1749, to house the commanding officer of the Spanish military garrison. The location would become known as the Plaza de Armas. In 1763, there were 22 soldiers in the presidio who were entrusted to defend all 5 nearby missions. The soldiers at times were used as escorts and for the prevention of cattle rustling and smuggling. In 1772, other forts in the area were closed; Presidio San Antonio de Béxar was left open and became the principal site of defense in Texas, with a command of 80 soldiers. Bexar would be made the capital of Texas and the captain of the presidio was to serve as governor of the region. In 1790, plans were made to renovate the fort, but the idea was never followed through.[4]
In 1803, 100 men from the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras (Álamo de Parras) were sent to reinforce the presidio, from Parras in southern Coahuila. Under the jurisdiction of the clergy of the Villa de San Fernando de Béxar and the Bishop of Nuevo León, they occupied the presidio Plaza de Armas (military Plaza) and the secularized mission of San Antonio de Valero.[5]
Although stockade walls were begun in 1805 on the north side of the city, a fort would no longer be necessary. By 1806 all the troops had now moved into the former Alamo Mission, now a fort.[6]
Also see: Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Spanish Governor's Palace
During the Mexican and Texan wars of independence, the presidio garrison would actively participate in numerous military engagements.
After the siege and Battle of Bexar and ouster of the Mexican troops from Texas in 1835, Texian Colonel James C. Neill would briefly command Bexar and the Alamo, which would be recaptured at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. In March, the Mexican garrison would be temporarily reinstated. The presidio officially ceased to exist when the Mexican Army acknowledged Texas independence and presented their formal surrender in San Antonio on June 4, 1836, to Bexar Military Chief Juan Seguin .
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