<Tr> <Th> State Party </Th> <Td> United States </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Region </Th> <Td> Europe and North America </Td> </Tr> <P> Mission San Francisco de la Espada (also Mission Espada) is a Roman Rite Catholic mission established in 1690 by Spain in present - day San Antonio, Texas, in what was then known as northern New Spain . The mission was built in order to convert local Native Americans to Christianity and solidify Spanish territorial claims in the New World against encroachment from France . Today, the structure is one of four missions that comprise San Antonio Missions National Historical Park . </P> <P> Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas near Weches, Texas and southwest of present - day Alto, Texas, Mission San Francisco de la Espada was the second mission established </P>

Who established mission san francisco de la espada