# Mangus Colorado — Geronimo’s Story of His Life character guide

> Mangus Colorado in Geronimo’s Story of His Life by Geronimo.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mangus, Mangus - Colorado

**First appearance:** 0016-viii-raids-that-were-successful

## Snapshot

Once-noted Apache leader whose murder after surrender haunts every later negotiation, teaching Naiche and Geronimo never to trust a peace offer.

## Who they are

Mangus-Colorado belongs to the generation before Geronimo's final wars, a leader whose fate is invoked at Skeleton Canyon as the reason Naiche will not easily lay down his arms. He was, in the Apaches' memory, foully murdered after he had surrendered—a betrayal that turns every American promise of safety into something to be weighed against a corpse. His death is the quiet precedent behind the suspicion that nearly breaks the surrender, and it explains why Geronimo's people measure each treaty by what happened to the chiefs who trusted the last one.

## In the story

### [Geronimo’s Story of His Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/geronimo-s-story-of-his-life)

Apache chief and ally in raids against Mexico.

### [Part I: The Apaches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-i-the-apaches)

Apache chief noted for his role in Apache warfare and leadership.

### [The Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/v-the-family)

Succeeded Maco as chief of the Bedonkohe Apaches.

### [VI: Kas-Ki-Yeh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/vi-kas-ki-yeh)

Chief of the Bedonkohe Apaches; orders the retreat after the massacre; calls a council for war and leads his tribe in the campaign.

### [Part I: The Massacre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-i-the-massacre)

Chief who orders the retreat after the massacre.

### [Part II: The Revenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-ii-the-revenge)

Chief of the Bedonkohe Apaches; calls a council and leads his tribe in the war against Mexico.

### [VIII: Raids That Were Successful](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/viii-raids-that-were-successful)

Chief who assembles the tribe after raids and commands one division during a defensive battle against Mexican cavalry.

### [IX: Varying Fortunes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/ix-varying-fortunes)

Led a raid into Mexico in 1867 with eight warriors, which ended in disgrace; refused to lead another raid.

### [Part III: The White Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/part-iii-the-white-men)

Referenced as a prominent Apache chief in dealings with white men.

### [XIII: Coming of the White Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xiii-coming-of-the-white-men)

Chief who escaped the tent attack at Apache Pass by cutting through the tent.

### [XIV: Greatest of Wrongs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xiv-greatest-of-wrongs)

Chief who goes to Apache Tejo to make a treaty and is treacherously captured and slain along with half the tribe.

### [XVI: In Prison and on the Warpath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xvi-in-prison-and-on-the-warpath)

Mentioned as a past victim of treachery, fueling Geronimo's distrust.

### [Surrender of Geronimo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/xviii-surrender-of-geronimo)

Mentioned as a leader who was murdered after surrendering, influencing Naiche's fear.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mangus-Colorado was foully murdered after he had surrendered, as noted by General Miles; his head was severed and brain weighed, with the skull sent to the Smithsonian.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters/mangus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/geronimo_s_story_of_his_life_se/characters