Nacogdoche

The Nacogdoche (Caddo: Nakúʔkidáawtsiʔ) are a Native American tribe from eastern Texas.

History

The Nacogdoche were part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy and closely allied with the Lower Nasoni. They historically lived between the Angelina and the Sabine Rivers in Texas. The Gentleman of Elvas, a member of Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition, wrote about the tribe, as did Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691.

In 1716, Franciscan monks accompanying Spanish explorer Domingo Ramón founded the Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de los Nacogdoches Mission to serve the Nacogdoche as well as neighboring tribes. In 1750, a Nacogdoche chief, Chacaiauchia, threatened to kill the presiding father at the mission, Father Calahorray Sanz, and demanded that all other Spaniards leave Nacogdoches territory. This threat was not fulfilled. The mission remained until in 1773, with brief dormant periods due to fear of French attack.

The governor of Texas visited the Nacogdoche in 1752. Their primary village, Nevantin, was located near present day Nacogdoches, Texas, named for the tribe. Four mounds surrounded the site of Nevantin, until research times.