NAME Geronimo (Goyahkla, meaning “One Who Yawns”)
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Geronimo was a legendary Apache warrior and resistance leader known for his fearless campaigns against both Mexican and United States forces in defense of Apache land, culture, and autonomy.
BIRTH Geronimo was born on June 16, 1829 (some sources suggest June 1829) in No-Doyohn Canyon (or No-doyohn Cañon), in what is now southeastern Arizona but was then part of Mexico. Some historians place his birth near present-day Clifton, Arizona, while others suggest the Gila River area in New Mexico.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Geronimo belonged to the Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache tribe. His grandfather was a chief of the Chiricahua Apache, but his father Taklishim ("the gray one") forfeited his hereditary right to leadership when he married into the Bedonkohe Apache tribe. His mother was Juana. Through marriage, Geronimo acquired significant family connections: Chief Juh of the Nedhai band was his brother-in-law, and he later married a niece of the famous Chief Cochise, making both Cochise and Chief Mangas Coloradas his uncles by marriage.
CHILDHOOD As a child, Geronimo was known as Goyahkla, meaning "One Who Yawns." He was raised in the warrior traditions of Apache life, where raiding rival tribes was seen as a mark of honor and bravery. According to legend, after making his first kill, the young Geronimo swallowed the animal’s heart to secure a lifetime of hunting success. Even in his youth, Geronimo was recognized by his people for his uncanny ability to interpret signs and foresee events, and he was soon trained as a shaman.
EDUCATION Geronimo's education followed traditional Apache customs, learning through modeling and trial and error. He was taught holy songs and prayers as part of his spiritual training as a medicine man. He learned traditional Apache skills including farming crops of corn, beans, squash, and peppers
By his coming of age, he showed talent for hunting and was admitted to the Council of Warriors at age 17 in 1846. This membership signified he was considered a man and was eligible to fight in battle and marry. He learned traditional Apache skills including farming crops of corn, beans, squash, and peppers.
CAREER RECORD Geronimo's career was defined by almost continuous warfare and resistance:
1846: Admitted to warriors' council at age 17
1851: First major tragedy when Mexican soldiers killed his mother, wife, and three children
1851-1886: Led numerous raids against Mexican and American forces
1858-1873: Period of intense warfare following family massacre
1874: Forced onto San Carlos Reservation with 4,000 other Apache He led several breakouts from reservations, including major campaigns in 1881 and 1885
1886: Final surrender to General Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona
1886-1909: Prisoner of war, first in Florida, then Alabama, finally Fort Sill, Oklahoma
APPEARANCE Geronimo was described as being of medium height, with a stocky build, strong features, and intense, piercing eyes. Photographs from his later life show him with a stern expression, often wearing traditional Apache clothing.
Indian agent John Clum, who arrested him in 1877, described him as standing "erect as a mountain pine, while every outline of his symmetrical form indicated strength and endurance. His abundant ebony locks draped his ample shoulders, his stern features, his keen piercing eye, and his proud and graceful posture combined to create in him the model of an Apache war-chief". (1)
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Geronimo kneeling with rifle, 1887 |
FASHION His fashion was primarily traditional Apache attire, including buckskin clothing, moccasins, and often a warbonnet or headband adorned with feathers. In his later years, after his surrender, he adapted to wearing more Western-style clothing while maintaining some traditional elements.
CHARACTER Geronimo was resolute, courageous, and deeply spiritual. His tenacity in battle and loyalty to his people earned him respect on both sides of the conflict.
SPEAKING VOICE Geronimo spoke in his native Apache tongue and was known for being solemn and deliberate in his speech. His words carried weight, often rooted in spiritual beliefs.
As an Apache medicine man and spiritual leader, he would have been skilled in oral tradition, storytelling, and ceremonial speaking. He dictated his autobiography to S.S. Barrett, indicating he was articulate and capable of detailed narrative.
During his time as a prisoner, he became skilled at public speaking and appeared at various exhibitions and fairs.
SENSE OF HUMOUR There are few accounts of his humor, but later anecdotes from his appearances at fairs suggest he had a wry wit, especially when selling photographs of himself to the curious public.
RELATIONSHIPS Geronimo was married nine to ten times throughout his life, with many wives dying violently or being captured. His documented wives included:
Alope - His first wife, a Nednhi Chiricahua, married around 1840. She and their three children were killed in the March 5, 1851 massacre at Janos. Their murder was a pivotal event that fueled his lifelong hatred of Mexicans and his determination to fight.
Chee-hash-kish - Bedonkohe Chiricahua, married 1852-1853, had two children including Chappo
Nana-that-thtith - Bedonkohe Chiricahua, had one child; both killed by Mexican troops
She-gha - Nednhi Chiricahua, related to Chief Cochise, married spring 1861
Shtsha-she - Bedonkohe Chiricahua, third wife
Zi-yeh - Daughter of Pine Pitch House, married late 1879, had children named Fenton and Eva
Ih-tedda - Young Mescalero Apache
Sousche (Mary Loto) - Widow who left him in 1906
Francesca - Former Mexican captive who had survived a mountain lion attack
Ta-ayz-slath (also known as Zi-yeh or Early Morning) was the mother of a son named Fenton Geronimo and a daughter named Eva (Geronimo) Godeley
Sunsetso (Azul) - His last wife, married 1907, survived him
His family ties throughout the Apache bands were extensive and important to his leadership. (2)
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Ta-ayz-slath, wife of Geronimo, and child |
MONEY AND FAME Geronimo's wealth was tied to the well-being of his people and the resources of their land. His fame grew as his resistance became legendary, particularly in the United States, where he was both feared and, ironically, admired as a symbol of defiance.
As a prisoner of war, Geronimo became quite entrepreneurial and achieved considerable fame. He appeared at major expositions including the 1898 Trans-Mississippi International Exposition in Omaha, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, and the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis. He participated in President Theodore Roosevelt's inaugural parade in 1905. Geronimo received money for these appearances and became skilled at selling autographed photographs and handmade items to tourists. He was described as "a Pioneer in self-branding by selling his own autographs" and became quite successful at capitalizing on his fame.
FOOD AND DRINK Traditional Apache diet included farming crops like corn, beans, squash, and peppers. The Apache also relied on hunting, gathering wild foods, and occasionally raiding for livestock.
As a prisoner at Fort Sill, Geronimo reportedly supported a whiskey habit, selling handmade bows and arrows to tourists to fund his drinking. His final illness was precipitated by a drinking binge when he fell from his horse and contracted pneumonia after lying in cold weather all night.
MUSIC AND ARTS Geronimo was trained in traditional Apache spiritual practices, which included learning "holy songs and prayers". As a medicine man and spiritual leader, he would have been well-versed in ceremonial music and chanting.
During his captivity, he became skilled at making traditional crafts including bows and arrows, which he sold to tourists and collectors. He also participated in Wild West shows, which would have involved some theatrical and performance elements.
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Geronimo with traditional Apache bow and arrow. |
LITERATURE Geronimo dictated his autobiography, Geronimo: His Own Story, to S.S. Barrett, which was published in 1906. Despite being unable to read or write, he was an accomplished storyteller in the oral tradition of his people. The book provides his personal account of his life, beliefs, and experiences.
His story has been the subject of numerous books, films, and other media representations since his death.
NATURE Geronimo had an intimate knowledge of the natural world, essential for survival and warfare in the Southwest. His spiritual beliefs were deeply connected to nature, the land, and the spirits that inhabited them.
PETS Horses were essential to Apache life and warfare. The Apache were skilled horsemen, and Geronimo's final accident occurred when he fell from his horse during a drinking episode.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Geronimo's life was primarily consumed by warfare and survival. His "hobbies" would have included traditional Apache activities like hunting, tracking, and perhaps participating in tribal ceremonies and games that honed physical and strategic skills.
During his imprisonment at Fort Sill, he became skilled at making traditional crafts for sale to tourists. He enjoyed participating in fairs and exhibitions, suggesting he found some entertainment value in these public appearances.
SCIENCE AND MATHS Geronimo possessed extraordinary practical knowledge of navigation, weather prediction, and survival skills. His ability to track, evade pursuit, and find resources in harsh desert conditions demonstrated sophisticated understanding of natural phenomena. As a medicine man, he would have had extensive knowledge of herbal medicines and healing practices.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Geronimo's spiritual beliefs evolved significantly during his lifetime. Originally, he followed traditional Apache religion centered on Ussen (the Creator) and believed in spiritual powers including visions and prophetic dreams. He claimed to have heard a voice promising "No gun will ever kill you. I will take the bullets from the guns of the Mexicans... and I will guide your arrows".
In 1903, Geronimo converted to Christianity, specifically joining the Reformed Church of America (related to the Dutch Reformed Church). He publicly confessed his past actions and urged his people to "give up dancing and other worldly amusements and repent of their sins". However, his conversion was viewed skeptically by many who saw it as an attempt to gain favor with President Roosevelt for clemency. He was later expelled from the church for gambling. In his autobiography, he wrote: "Believing that in a wise way it is good to go to church, and that associating with Christians would improve my character, I have adopted the Christian religion". (3)
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Photograph by Frank Rinehart, 1898 |
POLITICS Geronimo's entire adult life was defined by political resistance to U.S. and Mexican government policies. He embodied Apache resistance to forced relocation and the reservation system. His repeated escapes from reservations were political acts defending Apache rights to their traditional way of life and homeland. Geronimo made numerous appeals to President Roosevelt for clemency and the right to return to Arizona.
His ultimate political goal was the freedom and self-determination of the Apache people. Geronimo's resistance lasted longer than almost any other Native American leader, making him a symbol of Indigenous rights that continues to inspire movements today.
SCANDAL The main scandal involving Geronimo centers on allegations that members of Yale University's Skull and Bones society, including Prescott Bush (grandfather of President George W. Bush), stole his skull from his grave at Fort Sill in 1918. This led to a 2009 lawsuit by his descendants seeking to recover his remains. The alleged grave desecration carries significant political and cultural implications.
Additionally, controversy arose in 2011 when the U.S. military used "Geronimo" as the code name for the mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Native American leaders criticized this usage, arguing it perpetuated negative stereotypes and was inappropriate to associate a Native American hero with a terrorist.
Geronimo's expulsion from the Dutch Reformed Church for gambling was a noted blot in his twilight years. He also clashed with some other Apache leaders who disagreed with his continued resistance or decisions.
MILITARY RECORD Geronimo’s military career—if one can call a lifetime of running rings around vastly larger armies a “career”—spanned nearly forty years and was essentially one long, defiant middle finger to two national governments.
He first popped up during the Bascom Affair in 1861 and again at the Battle of Apache Pass in 1862—minor sparks that ignited what would become the protracted Apache Wars. From 1863 to 1872, he fought shoulder to shoulder with the equally legendary Cochise in a long, furious war of vengeance. This was followed by the most extraordinary stretch of all: the years 1876 to 1886, a full decade in which Geronimo repeatedly surrendered, escaped, reappeared, disappeared, and made generals tear their hair out in frustration.
The climax came in 1885–86, during what became known as the Geronimo Campaign—a mad, expensive, and often humiliating chase in which over 5,000 U.S. soldiers and 3,000 Mexican troops were dispatched to capture Geronimo’s ragtag group of just 38 people. That’s not a typo. Thirty-eight.
His war parties, rarely more than 30 to 50 warriors, were astonishingly effective, reportedly killing over 5,000 enemies while taking very few casualties themselves. Geronimo was wounded several times but, crucially, never defeated in battle. He finally surrendered—for the last time—on September 4, 1886, at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona. And thus ended one of the most improbable and stubborn military resistances in American history.
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Geronimo maintained remarkable physical fitness throughout most of his life, as required by his nomadic warrior lifestyle. The Apache were lean, muscular, broad-shouldered with exceptional endurance. Apache war parties could travel 40 miles per day on foot across difficult terrain.
Geronimo was wounded multiple times in battle but always recovered. His belief that no bullets could kill him seemed validated by his survival of countless engagements.
His health declined in his final years at Fort Sill. He developed a drinking problem and died from pneumonia after he fell from his horse during a drinking episode and lay in the cold all night before being found.
HOMES Geronimo's "homes" were the vast, rugged territories of the Apache in what is now Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. He lived a nomadic or semi-nomadic existence, residing in temporary wickiups or camps, always on the move to evade enemies or hunt.
From 1874, he was forced to live on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona, nicknamed "Hell's Forty Acres."
After his final surrender, he was held as a prisoner of war at various locations, including Fort Pickens, Florida (1886-1888), Mount Vernon Barracks, Alabama (1888-1894) and Fort Sill, Oklahoma (1894-1909). At Fort Sill, he lived in prisoner housing and took up farming as required. The area now known as Fort Sill includes housing on Geronimo Road, commemorating his long residency there.
TRAVEL Geronimo's travels were dictated by the movements of his band, either for hunting, raiding, or evading capture.
During Warfare (1850-1886): His raiding parties traveled throughout Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. The Geronimo Trail in southeastern Arizona commemorates his routes. His ability to navigate this harsh terrain and evade capture across such vast distances was legendary.
As Prisoner (1886-1909): Transported by railroad from Arizona to Florida, then Alabama, and finally Oklahoma. Despite being a prisoner, he traveled extensively within the U.S. for exhibitions and fairs.
Exhibition Tours: Appeared at major events across the country including Omaha, Buffalo, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.. These travels made him one of the most widely-seen Native Americans of his era.
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Geronimo departing for Florida from Fort Bowie, Arizona |
DEATH Geronimo died on February 17, 1909, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, at the age of 79-80. The cause of death was pneumonia. The illness was precipitated when he fell from his horse during a drinking binge and spent the night lying in cold weather before being found by a friend.
According to reports, his final words were: "I should have never surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive".
He was buried in the Apache cemetery at Fort Sill.
His last wife, Azul, survived him and later moved to the Mescalero Reservation in New Mexico.
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Geronimo has appeared extensively in popular culture since his lifetime:
Early Films: One of the earliest films about his life, Geronimo's Last Raid, appeared in 1912, just three years after his death.
Books: His autobiography Geronimo: His Own Story (1906) and numerous biographies including Angie Debo's Geronimo: The Man, His Time, His Place (1976).
Films: Major Hollywood productions including Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) starring Wes Studi, directed by Walter Hill.
Literature and Academic Works: William M. Clements' Imagining Geronimo: An Apache Icon in Popular Culture (2013) explores his extensive media representations.
Children's Literature: The character name has been used for the popular "Geronimo Stilton" children's book series, though this is unrelated to the historical figure.
Contemporary References: His name has been used for everything from military operations to commercial products, making him one of the most recognized Native American names in popular culture. The cry “Geronimo!” as a symbol of fearlessness was popularized by American paratroopers, inspired by a 1939 film about him.
Actor Nicholas Colasanto kept a picture of Geronimo in his dressing room while filming Cheers; it now hangs in the show's bar set in his honor. (4)
ACHIEVEMENTS Prolonged Resistance: Led one of the longest and most effective resistances against U.S. and Mexican expansion, holding out for decades when many other Native American groups had been subdued.
Master of Guerrilla Warfare: Demonstrated exceptional skill in guerrilla tactics, repeatedly outmaneuvering and evading vastly superior forces.
Spiritual Leadership: Maintained a powerful role as a shaman and spiritual leader, inspiring and guiding his people through immense hardship.
Symbol of Resistance: Became an enduring international symbol of Native American resistance, courage, and the fight for freedom and self-determination against overwhelming odds.
Preservation of Apache Culture (in part): Though his people were ultimately confined, his actions contributed to the preservation of some aspects of Apache identity and history.
Sources: (1) Encyclopedia.com (2) True West magazine (3) Historynet (4) Encyclopaedia of Trivia