Faraon Apache Tribe
The Faraon Apache, named from early Spanish references to the “Apache hordes of Pharaoh,” were a tribe primarily located in the region between the Rio Grande and the Pecos in New Mexico. Historically, they appear to be the southern division of the Querecho encountered by Coronado in 1541, later identified as the Vaqueros by Benavides in 1630, and possibly part of the Llaneros in more recent times. Their relationship to other Apache tribes is unclear, though they likely had closer ties to the Mescaleros. The Faraon Apache were known for their frequent raids on Spanish and Pueblo settlements in the Rio Grande area and Chihuahua, with the Sandia mountains serving as a significant stronghold. Despite multiple Spanish expeditions and peace treaties, these agreements often failed to bring lasting peace. Noted divisions within the tribe include the Ancavistis, Jacomis, Orejones, Carlanes, and Cuampes, although some, like the Carlanes, were associated with the Jicarillas.