: At the height of the hunt for him, nearly 5,000 U.S. soldiers —one-fourth of the entire standing army at the time—were assigned to capture him and his small band of followers.
Geronimo was a leader of the Bedonkohe band of the Apache. While often called a "chief," he was primarily a —a spiritual figure believed to have visions and the power to know events from miles away. His transformation into a fierce warrior began in 1858 (sometimes cited as 1850) after Mexican soldiers killed his mother, wife, and children. The Struggle for Sovereignty Cita-Jenimo
For over 30 years, Geronimo led raids and resisted the displacement of his people by both the Mexican and U.S. governments. : At the height of the hunt for him, nearly 5,000 U
"Cita-Jenimo" appears to be a phonetic or localized variation referring to (born Goyaałé ), the legendary Apache military leader and medicine man. In Spanish-speaking contexts, "Geronimo" is the equivalent of Jerónimo (Jerome), a name given to him by Mexican soldiers who reportedly called upon Saint Jerome during battles with him. The Man Behind the Name: Goyaałé to Geronimo While often called a "chief," he was primarily