Antonio Pascual Narbona (1773 – 20 March 1830) was a Spanish soldier from
Mobile
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''(Mauvila'' in
Spanish
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) now in Alabama, who fought native American people in the northern part of Mexico (now the southwestern United States) around the turn of the nineteenth century. He supported the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821.
He was Governor of the territory of
Santa Fe de Nuevo México (New Mexico) from September 1825 until 1827.
Early career
Antonio Narbona was a ''
Criollo
Criollo or criolla (Spanish for creole) may refer to:
People
* Criollo people, a social class in the Spanish race-based colonial caste system (the European descendants)
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* Criollo duck, a species of duck native to Central and South Ameri ...
'', or locally born person of pure Spanish ancestry, born at
Mobile
Mobile may refer to:
Places
* Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city
* Mobile County, Alabama
* Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S.
* Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador
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in Spanish Louisiana, now Alabama.
He arrived in
Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
in 1789 as a cadet in the Santa Cruz Company, sponsored by the commandant Brigadier Enrique Grimarest, who was his brother in law.
He was promoted to ensign of the
Fronteras
Fronteras is the seat of Fronteras Municipality in the northeastern part of the Mexican state of Sonora. Frontera translates as Border. The elevation is 1,120 meters and neighboring municipalities are Agua Prieta, Nacozari and Bacoachi. The ar ...
garrison in Sonora on 27 January 1793.
Lieutenant Antonio Narbona came to New Mexico from
Chihuahua province in January 1805 at the head of a troop of soldiers sent to respond to a
Navajo
The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States.
With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...
raid.
The Navajos had made attacks on the Spanish military post at Cebolletta, and on nearby settlements.
They were trying to recover their grazing land at the foot of
Mount Taylor, their sacred Turquoise Mountain.
Narbona's force travelled north from
Zuni Pueblo
Zuni Pueblo (also Zuñi Pueblo, Zuni: ''Halona Idiwan’a'' meaning ‘Middle Place’) is a census-designated place (CDP) in McKinley County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 6,302 as of the 2010 Census. It is inhabited largely b ...
, passing through the
Narbona Pass
Narbona Pass (formerly Washington Pass) is a pass through the natural break between the Tunicha and Chuska Mountains, an elongated range on the Colorado Plateau on the Navajo Nation.
A paved road, New Mexico Highway 134, crosses the range through N ...
to attack the Canyon de Chelly.
The Narbona expedition killed over 115 Navajo and took 33 women and children as slaves.
A 19th-century pictograph in the
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly National Monument ( ) was established on April 1, 1931, as a unit of the National Park Service. Located in northeastern Arizona, it is within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and lies in the Four Corners region. Reflecting on ...
represents the force.
Sonora and Sinaloa
In 1809 Narbona was promoted to captain at Fronteras. He became commander of the
Tucson
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
presidio.
In 1815 he handed over command of Tucson to Lt Col. Manual Ignacio Arvisu.
Fearing loss of protection, many of the settlers moved away.
He was later given military command of
Sonora
Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( en, Free and Sovereign State of Sonora), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is d ...
.
In 1819 he signed a peace treaty with the
Apache
The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...
s, who were in conflict with the settlers in
Presidio
A presidio ( en, jail, fortification) was a fortified base established by the Spanish Empire around between 16th and 18th centuries in areas in condition of their control or influence. The presidios of Spanish Philippines in particular, were cen ...
.
In 1820 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was made Adjutant Inspector of the Comandancy General.
Narbona was given command of the troops at
Arizpe
Arizpe (or Arispe) is a small town and the municipal seat of the Arizpe Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at 30°20'"N 110°09'"W. The area of the municipality is 2,806.78 sq.km. The population in 2005 was ...
, leading them in support of the
Plan of Iguala
The Plan of Iguala, also known as The Plan of the Three Guarantees ("Plan Trigarante") or Act of Independence of North America, was a revolutionary proclamation promulgated on 24 February 1821, in the final stage of the Mexican War of Independenc ...
and Mexican independence from Spain.
He and
Simón Elías Gonzalez secured Arizpe and northeastern Sonora, then marched to
Guaymas
Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Cali ...
on the
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California ( es, Golfo de California), also known as the Sea of Cortés (''Mar de Cortés'') or Sea of Cortez, or less commonly as the Vermilion Sea (''Mar Bermejo''), is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja Ca ...
to put down opposition to the independence movement. On 6 September 1821 he led the chiefs and officers of the garrison who swore independence in accordance with the basis of the Plan of Iguala.
As the top political leader refused to take the same attitude, he was forced to resign and Lieutenant Colonel Narbona took over command of the army in the provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa. Days later he led his forces in the direction of
Guaymas
Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the U.S. border. The municipality is located on the Gulf of Cali ...
, where the population led by father Pedro Leyva had refused to accept the plan, and forced them to submit.
Narbona was elected second member of the Provincial Government of Sonora and Sinaloa, and on 23 July 1822 was appointed political leader of the provinces of Sonora and Sinaloa. During his administration the two provinces were separated for the first time.
In the first half of 1823, he put down an uprising of the Opata and Yaqui. In August he gave the political and military command to Colonel Urrea.
Promoted to colonel in April 1825, he led the forces that helped subdue the Yaqui led by
Juan Banderas Juan Banderas (executed 1833 at Arizpe) was the leader of the Yaqui during part of the Yaqui Wars, specifically from 1825 until 1833.
Banderas came to the leadership of the Yaqui when they opened war against Occidente State due to opposition to thr ...
.
He then handed over the force to the command of General Figueroa.
Governor of New Mexico
Colonel Antonio Narbona was appointed ''géfe político'' (equivalent to governor) of New Mexico from September 1825 to May 1827.
In 1825 the United States President
James Monroe
James Monroe ( ; April 28, 1758July 4, 1831) was an American statesman, lawyer, diplomat, and Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825. A member of the Democratic-Republican Party, Monroe was ...
sent three representatives to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to negotiate a "road between nations" and to establish trade routes and define hunting rights.
George Champlin Sibley
George Champlin Sibley (April 1, 1782 – January 31, 1863) was an American explorer, soldier, Indian agent, politician.
Biography
Early life
Sibley was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on April 1, 1782, the son of Dr. John and Eliz ...
met with Governor Narbona and established cordial relations.
As governor, he issued beaver-trapping licenses to foreigners from the United States on condition that they took Mexicans with them and taught them the skills.
However, in 1826 he sent a report to the national government in which he expressed concern about the number of Anglo-Americans who had moved into Taos and Santa Fe. These did not just include merchants but also tradesmen such as carpenters, smiths, cabinet makers, painters and even hat makers.
He died in
Arizpe
Arizpe (or Arispe) is a small town and the municipal seat of the Arizpe Municipality in the north of the Mexican state of Sonora. It is located at 30°20'"N 110°09'"W. The area of the municipality is 2,806.78 sq.km. The population in 2005 was ...
on March 20, 1830, and his namesake son, who was also military and attained the rank of colonel, was killed by Apaches in Cuquiárachi on the threshold of his house on December 23, 1848.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Narbona, Antonio
1773 births
1830 deaths
Mexican governors of Santa Fe de Nuevo México
Neomexicano slave owners
Politicians from Mobile, Alabama
Military personnel from Mobile, Alabama