Should the Comanches be Classified as an Empire?
There is a controversy surrounding the definition of empires that has specifically been ignited by historian Pekka Hämäläinen in his book “The Comanche Empire” when he stated that the Comanches formed an empire without abandoning their nomadic way of life. The exact definition of an empire is “a political unit where one group in a core territory rules over many other groups located in peripheral territories” (Anthony). Traditionally, empires have had distinct boundaries and centralized governments. However, Hämäläinen argues that the Comanches, a nomadic group, established dominance through regular long-distance raids rather than through traditional means of territorial control (Anthony). He also suggests that the Comanche empire focused on controlling important resources such as bison, horses, and human captivity rather than following the conventional narrative of colonialism in North America. Many historians have debated the validity of Hämäläinen’s claims. Some have argued that Hämäläinen exaggerated the extent of Comanche domination and misrepresented the scale of their empire. They believe that Comanche domination was a result of European settlers’ inadequate investment in frontier defense rather than the strength of the Comanche society (Anthony). Furthermore, there are limited sources available written by the Comanches themselves. Thus, there are concerns that applying the term “empire” to an indigenous society like the Comanches may distort their self-perception and historical identity.
The Comanches originated as a distinct group within the Shoshone Native American tribe. In the early 16th century, they began migrating from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains. Eventually, they settled in what is now Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kansas. The Comanches were traditionally a nomadic group of people who relied on bison hunting and horse riding. The Comanches society was organized in bands, each one led by a chief. Storytelling was a rich tradition which played a role in passing down knowledge and history. This migration occurred at the same time as the establishment of Spanish imperial rule in the region leading to interactions and conflicts. Throughout the 18th and 19th century, the Comanche expanded their influence by forming alliances but also engaged in conflict with settlers.
Although the Comanches led a nomadic lifestyle, there are several reasons for why they should be considered an empire. These reasons are outlined in Pekka Hämäläinen’s book “The Comanche Empire”. This is a secondary source which contributes to the historiography of indigenous history and challenges traditional narratives of native American societies as passive victims of European colonialism. The thesis of the book is to argue that the Comanche did in fact form a unique empire in North America, which challenged conventional understandings of empires as exclusively European. Hämäläinen’s perspective is shaped by his background as a historian specializing in indigenous history and his engagement with primary sources, archaeological evidence, and previous scholarship on the topic. His interpretation of historical events may be influenced by his own perspectives and biases as well as limited available evidence. The intended audience includes its scholars, students, and general readers interested in native American history, colonialism, and empires. The author argues that the Comanches established themselves as powerful military adversaries by engaging in long-distance raids and warfare with not only other Indigenous nations but also European settlers (Hämäläinen). Their ability to maintain control over trade routes and secure resources through these raids shows territorial dominance similar to traditional empires. Next, the Comanches controlled crucial resources, such as bison, horses, captives, which were important to the economic activities of the region (Hämäläinen). By monopolizing these resources and controlling trade networks, they held significant economic power over the surrounding territories. Lastly, the Comanches formed alliances with European powers like the Spanish and the French, as well as other indigenous nations, such as the Utes and Kiowas (Hämäläinen). These alliances allow them to expand their influence and negotiate terms in trade and warfare. This further solidified their status as a dominant political power in the region. This can be shown in letters exchanged between Spanish Governor Juan Bautista de Anza and Comanche Chief Ecueracapa. This is a primary source which discusses the correspondence situated in the late 18th century during the Spanish colonial In North America. These letters, along with others, were reproduced by several authors in English to create one book. This book consists of seven reports or letters dealing with Spanish relations with the Comache Indians between 1785 and 1819. The purpose of these letters is to negotiate and maintain relations between the Spanish colonizers and the Comanche nation. The correspondence likely reflects the perspectives and biases of both the Spanish colonial authorities, and the Comanches. The biases may include perceptions of indigenous people as “others” to may be the colonizers as strategic considerations related to expansion and economic interests. The intended audience would primarily be Spanish colonial officials and military personnel involved in managing relations with indigenous nations, as well as Comanche leaders and other indigenous groups involved in diplomatic negotiations. These letters discuss diplomatic, negotiations, trade agreements, and military alliances between the Spanish authorities and the Comanches (The Hague). They provide firsthand accounts of the Comanches’ political organization, military strategies, and territorial ambitions. These letters provide insights into the nature of Comanche society and support the argument that they were a dominant force in the southern Great Plains and should be considered an empire (The Hague).
On the other hand, there are many arguments against considering the Comanche society an empire. This can be shown using another letter from the book The Hispanic American Historical Review. As explained before, this book is a translated collection of letters between the leaders of the Comanches and the Spanish. One of the letters from this book is from Spanish governor Fernando Ortiz de Baca to the Viceroy of New Spain in 1785. The letter is situated during the Spanish colonial period in North America. It reflects the perspectives of Spanish colonial officials on their interactions with indigenous nations. The purpose of the letter is to report on the status of Spanish relations with indigenous groups in the region, including the Comanches. It provides insight into Spanish perceptions of Comanche society, politics, and military capabilities. The letters reflect the perspectives and biases of Spanish colonial authorities, as they are the authors of the document. Their biases may include certain perceptions of indigenous. The intended audience would primarily be Spanish colonial officials and military personnel involved in managing relationships with indigenous nations. The intended audience is the Viceroy of New Spain who held authority over colonial territories in North America. Specifically, the letter describes the Comanches As lacking in centralized, political authority. This letter also highlights Spanish efforts to assert control over Comanche territories or resources which undermines notions of Comanche dominance (Kenner). It is also known that the Comanches maintained a nomadic way of life based on seasonal migrations and decentralized social organization. This is unlike traditional empires, which typically rely on centralized governments and fixed territorial boundaries. This suggests a lack of control over conquered territories, challenging the argument that the Comanches were an empire. Secondly, the Comanches had limited territorial control. While they exerted influence over many territories through military and economic activities, they did not exercise the same level of direct political control as traditional empires (Kenner). Their dominance heavily relied on rating and trade rather than on the establishment of formal administrative structures. Lastly, some scholars argue that applying the term “empire” imposes western concepts of governance and sovereignty onto a non-Western culture. This oversimplifies the complex, social and political dynamics of indigenous societies. This argument is outlined in the book “Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History” by S.C. Gwynne. This book provides a critical analysis of the Comanche empire thesis and argues against the idea that this group formed a centralized imperial state. This is a secondary source, and the book is situated within the broader historiography of native American history, art, particularly focusing on the Comanche people and their interactions with European colonizers. The thesis of the book is to provide a comprehensive account of the rise and fall of the Comanche People. Gwynne’s perspective is shaped by his background as a journalist and historian, as well as his engagement with various primary and secondary sources on the topic. While he strives for objectivity, his interpretation of historical events may be influenced by his own perspectives and biases. Specifically, Gwynne examines the limitations of applying western concepts of empire to indigenous society and challenges the notion that the Comanches operated as a unified political entity (Gwynne). The book discusses how the society was organized around kinship ties, where leadership was determined by familiar relationships rather than formal bureaucratic hierarchy. This kinship based system contrasts with the centralized governance typically associated with empires. The author also discusses how the alliances that the comm matches formed were fluid rather than through the imposition of imperial authority. This demonstrates that the alliances were a much more flexible and adaptable approach to power dynamics, unlike traditional empires (Gwynne 2010).
Although, there is a valid debate surrounding the classification of the Comanches as an empire, the evidence supporting their classification as such is in my opinion stronger. Firstly, opponents of the view that the Comanches were not an empire often argue that their society lacked centralized political authority and formal bureaucratic structures, which are typically associated with traditional empires. However, this argument overlooks the nuanced ways in which the Comanches exercised control over a vast territory and diverse populations. Pekka Hämäläinen’s “The Comanche Empire” clearly debunked this argument by presenting compelling evidence of the Comanche’s political and military dominance in the southern great plains. Although this control was facilitated through complex kinship based alliances, there was a level of political sophistication that aligned with traditional imperial models (Hämäläinen). Moreover, the economic power of this indigenous group was supported by S.C. Gwynne when she detailed their mastery of horse-mounted warfare and strategic alliances. Furthermore, historical accounts from Spanish colonial officials are often used to disprove the status of the Comanche society. As such, relying solely on colonial perspective to define the nature of indigenous societies risks perpetuating biased interpretations of history. Overall, while there may be different interpretations of Comanche society and politics, the evidence supporting their status as an empire, outweighs arguments to the contrary. Although their status mirrors that of an empire, I don’t necessarily believe that they should be labeled as one. The structure of this group was far more intricate than traditional western notions of empire might suggest. From the decentralized political framework to the reliance on seasonal migrations, the word empire is not nuanced enough to represent this group. Furthermore, the concept of empire itself is a western construct that may not fully capture the complexity of indigenous political systems. Applying this term to non-western societies risks imposing Eurocentric interpretations and overlooking indigenous perspectives on governance. Language plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of the world, including concepts, like governance and societal organization. While this debate about classifying the Comanche as an empire goes on, people fail to understand that there is already a word describing their structure. In fact, the term is “ranchería”. This term carries a depth of cultural and historical, meaning that extends beyond a mere translation to empire. It encompasses notions of community, kinship, and autonomy within the Comanche society. By identifying themselves with the term “ranchería”, the Comanches emphasize their distinct political and social organization, rooted in their own cultural traditions and values (Comanche Nation). Furthermore, the concept of empire, as understood in western context, often implies centralized authority, hierarchical control, and formal administrative structures — all of which may not align with the decentralized and kin- based governance model of the Comanches. While the Comanches exerted political and military influence over a vast territory and engaged in intertribal warfare and diplomacy, their motive governance differed from European notions of empire. Therefore, relying solely on the term “empire” to describe the Comanches may overlook the nuances of their societal organization. In conclusion, the Comanches can be classified as an empire but only their terminology can give a comprehensive understanding of their history, society, and governance structure.
Bibliography
Anthony, Joshua (2021). The Comanches: Did They Establish an Empire in the American Southwest. Issues & Controversies in History.
Gwynne, S. C. (2010). Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History. New York: Scribner.
Hämäläinen, Pekka. “The Comanche Empire.” Yale University Press, 2008.
“Home: Comanche Nation.” Home | Comanche Nation, Jan. 2024, comanchenation.com/.
Kenner, Charles. Seven Spanish Colonial Documents. The Hispanic American Historical Review. Edited and translated by Simmons, Marc. Santa Fe, 1967. Stagecoach Press. Pp 32.
The Hague. Seven Spanish Colonial Documents. The Hispanic American Historical Review. Edited and translated by Simmons, Marc. Santa Fe, 1967. Stagecoach Press. Pp 41.