Geronimo was born in 1829 in what is now western New Mexico. His given name was Goyathlay, which means "one who yawns." At the time of his birth, the area was still Mexican territory. He was a Bedonkohe Apache, the grandson of Mahko. Geronimo's cousins, Ishton and Asa Daklugie, were both members of the Nednhi band of the more celebrated and familiar Chiricahua Apache. Geronimo was the leader of the Apaches at Arispe in Sonora. It was rumored that his battle successes – even in some of the most daring raids ever recorded – came from inhuman powers, which were conferred upon him by supernatural beings. This included an invulnerability to bullets.