---
title: Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas
author: Ernest Mettendorf
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20931/presidio-la-bahia-fort-defiance-goliad-texas/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2025-09-09
---

# Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas

_Authored by Ernest Mettendorf_

## Image File

[![Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20931.jpeg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/20931.jpeg)

## Image Caption

Presidio La Bahía, photograph by Ernest Mettendorf, 2008.

The Presidio La Bahía was initially constructed as a Spanish fortress but later fell into the hands of the new Mexican state after the Mexican [War](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) of Independence. It changed garrisons once again after Texian forces captured the structure in 1835 during the [Texas Revolution](https://www.worldhistory.org/Texas_Revolution/), renaming it "Fort Defiance." They would hold it only briefly until 1836, when the Mexican Army defeated the region's Texians and executed captives in what came to be known as the [Goliad massacre](https://www.worldhistory.org/Goliad_Massacre/).

## Cite This Work

### APA
Mettendorf, E. (2025, September 09). Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20931/presidio-la-bahia-fort-defiance-goliad-texas/>
### Chicago
Mettendorf, Ernest. "Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 09, 2025. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20931/presidio-la-bahia-fort-defiance-goliad-texas/>.
### MLA
Mettendorf, Ernest. "Presidio La Bahía (Fort Defiance), Goliad, Texas." *World History Encyclopedia*, 09 Sep 2025, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/20931/presidio-la-bahia-fort-defiance-goliad-texas/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Presidio_La_Bah%C3%ADa.jpg) by [**Ernest Mettendorf**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Presidio_La_Bah%C3%ADa.jpg). Submitted by [Joshua J. Mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/JPryst/ "User Page: Joshua J. Mark"), published on 09 September 2025. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.