Gregorio and Francisco Esparza: Brothers Who Fought Each Other During the Independence of Texas, 1835-1836

Abstract

In 1836, the Mexican army captured FortAlamo outside San Antonio. All its defenders,who were fighting for the independence ofTexas, died in action. Among these was Gregorio Esparza, a native of that city. After thisbattle, his brother Francisco, enlisted in theMexican army, gave him a Christian burial.This article examines the saga of the two brothers, virtually unknown in Mexico. The first section contextualizes the independence of Texas.The second contains the results of the author’sdocumentary research on Gregorio and Francisco Esparza. The third comments on an interview with one of Gregorio’s sons on the rolesplayed by his father and uncle at The Alamo.The fourth critically evaluates the evidence. Thefifth provides a reflection on the reasons thatled the Esparza brothers –and the Texan community of Mexican origin– to fight each otherover the independence of Texas. The last section contains appendices with transcriptions ofthe parish records and censuses of the time andcomments on the accounts of Gregorio’s sonand other descendants.