In Fate Grand Order, Geronimo is a true American hero. To summarize a complicated, ridiculous story, in the legendary E Pluribus Unum chapter of this game set in 1783, Geronimo teamed up with various historical figures such as Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, Helena Blavatsky, Karna, Nightingale, Rama, Robin Hood, Elizabeth Bathory, Nero, Billy the Kid, and Scathach in order to save America. The enemy was America’s most daunting threat yet - an epic team led by Queen Medb of mythological legends such as Arjuna and Beowulf, along with prominent Celtic heroes such as Cu Chulainn, Fergus Mac Roich, Fionn MacCumhaill, and Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. The game depicts Geronimo making a heroic sacrifice during his failed assassination attempt of Medb, Arjuna, and Cu, after which stuff happened and then somehow America was saved.
In real life, however, history progressed just a little bit differently. Geronimo, born in 1829, was in an Apache tribe. Continuing the Apache tradition of raiding, Geronimo faced tragedy at an early age when his wife and children were killed by Mexicans in 1858. Geronimo was caught between Mexican hostility and American encroachment, as the United States also wanted to restrict Apache movement by cornering them into claustrophobic reservations.
When the United States tried to move the Apaches to a reservation in San Carlos, Geronimo led violent resistances against American authorities. Geronimo was able to constantly evade capture, and American people were terrified as they heard about Geronimo killing both Americans and Mexicans. Geronimo surrendered in 1884 to a U.S. campaign, but then escaped from the San Carlos reservation once again in 1885. He eventually surrendered again in 1886 in the Canyon of the Funnels, only to dash away again. 5000 white and 500 Native American soldiers were sent after him, and he was eventually cornered in the Sonora mountains, ultimately forcing Geronimo to surrender after around a decade of raiding.
Geronimo spent the rest of his life as a U.S. captive, where him and his followers were faced with exile. Geronimo ironically became a celebrity in the very country he so earnestly tried to resist, appearing at various fairs and giving autographs. He was put on display in the St. Louis World Fair (mentioned in a documentary), portrayed as just another attraction in a museum-like exhibit of subjugated people.
The story of Geronimo emphasizes the discriminatory mentality of the United States at this time. Geronimo, the last and one of the most most resilient members of the Native American resistance, was ultimately reduced to nothing more than another interesting exhibit at United States fairs for entertainment. There was no heroic last stand; with the defeat of Geronimo, the Native American resistance was finally over, reduced to a population of second-class citizens in the very country they originated from.
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