Mangas Coloradas

Who was Mangas Coloradas?

Mangas Coloradas, or Dasoda-hae was an Apache tribal chief and a member of the Mimbreño division of the Central Apaches, whose homeland stretched west from the Rio Grande to include most of what is present-day southwestern New Mexico. He was the father-in-law of the Chiricahua Chief Cochise, the Mimbreño Chief Victorio and the Mescalero Chief Kutbhalla, and is regarded by many historians to be one of the most important native American leaders of the 19th century due to his fighting achievements against Mexicans and Americans.

The name Mangas Coloradas is the reception of his Apache nickname Kan-da-zis Tlishishen by Mexicans and is Spanish for Red Sleeves. A Bedonkohe by birth he married into the Copper Mines local group of the Chihenne and became also leader of the neighboring Mimbreño local group of the Chihenne.