The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texan settlers and a detachment of Mexican army soldiers. On October 2, 1835, the growing tensions between Mexico and Texas erupt into violence when Mexican soldiers attempt to disarm the people of Gonzales, sparking the Texan war for independence. Texas or Tejas as the Mexicans called it–had technically been a part of the Spanish Empire since the 17th century.