Defense of the Spanish Borderlands in the early nineteenth century was a lost cause. Official neglect, expansionist pressures from the Mississippi Valley, and insurgency threatening from south of the Rio Grande all but guaranteed that these years would be the twilight of Spanish rule in the region. In the face of unrest, decline, and collapse, Governor Manuel Maria de Salcedo carried the Bourbon standard in Texas.
Until the appearance of this now classic work by Felix D. Almaraz, Jr., both the general history of the Spanish Borderlands in this period and the specific role of Governor Salcedo had received little scholarly attention. Based on letters and documents in the Bexar Archives, "Tragic Cavalier" offers a historical account of the Mexican independence movement in Texas interpreted from the Spanish perspective. Since its initial publication in 1971, this study has evoked constructive criticism and commentary. Now graced with new chapter drawings by renowned artist Jose Cisneros, this new edition will continue to inform researchers and students of history on the waning years of the Hispanic frontier.