The Decline and Trade Networks of the Comanche Empire

The history of the Comanche Empire is a complex narrative intertwined with the expansionist efforts of the Anglo colonists and the policies of the United States. This article delves into the factors that led to the decline of the Comanche Empire and the trade networks that existed with various tribes, especially after the Anglo colonists and later Union Troops were introduced to the region.

The Anglo Colonists and the Comanche

The Anglo colonists brought in by Mexico to settle Texas were instrumental in the gradual decline of the Comanche Empire. They not only settled the region but also engaged in continuous conflict with the Comanche. The Texas Rangers, a significant force in Texas, played a crucial role in these conflicts. They gained a decisive advantage when they were able to access and order Colt revolvers in large quantities.

One of the most notable events was the 'Trail of Tears' in 1839, after the Texians had significantly weakened the Comanche threat. The Comanche had previously forced the Apache to the brink of extinction and most other tribes were sympathetic to their downfall. However, the Comanche's violent and brutal nature made them formidable and they were often more hostile than the more often romanticized Apache.

The Civil War and Beyond

During the American Civil War, Union Troops were withdrawn to Kansas, providing Western tribes with a new opportunity to attack into the Indian Territory, which is now modern-day Oklahoma and Kansas. This period saw the US policy of Indian removal, which forced thousands of Creeks, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles to move westward beyond the Mississippi River.

These displaced tribes began to hunt on the lands of the powerful Comanches, leading to increased conflict. However, it was not long before these new arrivals found a modus vivendi with the Comanches. The Comanche Empire, by the early 18th century, had already developed a massive trading system that dominated the Southern Plains. These displaced tribes engaged in trade, selling agricultural products and goods to the Comanches, in exchange for buffalo skins, horses, and mules, some of which were then resold to the Americans in Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The Role of Plantation Slavery

The leaders of the displaced tribes, including the Cherokees, Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, began to practice American-style plantation slavery. They brought black slaves with them and began to cultivate crops like cotton and tobacco in the west. This created a demand for slaves, leading these displaced tribes to purchase abducted Mexicans, Anglo-Americans, and blacks from the Comanches. Some of these captives were used as slaves, while others were sold to US Indian agents in exchange for light-skinned individuals.

Thus, the complex web of relationships and exchanges between the Comanche Empire and various tribes, including the Anglo colonists, played a crucial role in the decline and dynamics of the Comanche Empire. This history is often oversimplified and romanticized in popular narratives, but a careful examination reveals a more nuanced and complex reality.