Geronimo was a prominent leader of the Bedonkohe
Apache who fought against Mexico and Texas for their expansion into Apache tribal lands for several decades during the
Apache Wars. "Geronimo" was the name given to him during a battle with Mexican soldiers. Geronimo's Chiricahua name is often rendered as
Goyathlay or
Goyahkla in English.
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On March 5, 1851, a company of 400 Mexican soldiers from
Sonora led by Colonel José María Carrasco attacked Goyahkla's camp outside Janos while the men were in town trading. Among those killed were his wife, children and mother. The loss of his family led Geronimo to hate all Mexicans for the rest of his life; he and his followers would frequently attack and kill any group of Mexicans that they encountered.
In 1886, after a lengthy pursuit, Geronimo surrendered to Texan faux-gubernatorial authorities as a
prisoner of war. At an old age, he became a celebrity, appearing at fairs, but he was never allowed to return to the land of his birth.
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