The Spanish Colony of New Mexico and Its Missions Are Destroyed: August 21, 1680

This text comes from our book, From Sea to Shining Sea.

Ruins of Mission Los Angeles, New Mexico

Though the Spanish colony and the Indian missions were making progress, all was not peaceful in New Mexico. Only three years after Indians arrived in Santa Fe seeking baptism, the Indians of Hawikuh pueblo killed the missionary priest, Fray Francisco Letrado. Though pierced by many arrows, Fray Francisco died with a crucifix in his hand, praying for his murderers.

Though many years passed with little violence after the death of Fray Francisco, some pagan Indians only awaited the day when they could drive the Spaniards out. Indian shamans, or “medicine men,” were angry over the many Indians who had become Christian. For many years, few Indians would listen to these shamans; but, then, things started to go wrong in New Mexico. Wild Indian tribes attacked the pueblos, enslaving the Indians who lived there. A long drought and sicknesses caused many Indian deaths. The shamans began to say that these evils had come because the Indians had abandoned their old gods to worship this new god called “Christ.” Many pueblo Indians believed the shamans and returned to pagan worship.

Traditional Navajo dwelling, called a “hogan”

Other Indians were angry because the Spanish governors of New Mexico had mistreated them. The governors demanded that the Indians pay tribute to them and labor for them. In 1675, Governor Juan Francisco de Treviño (tre•VEE•nyoh) discovered that some Indians were planning to revolt against the Spanish. Imprisoning their leaders, he sentenced them to death. Later he changed his mind and, instead of executing the Indian leaders, had them whipped.

Whipping was, in some ways, worse than death to the proud Indian; it was a serious insult. Because he had been so insulted, Popé (poh•PAY), a shaman from Taos pueblo, laid plans to overthrow the Spanish. For ten years he worked to unite all the pueblos against the Spanish. By 1680 he had gathered a force of Indians strong enough to challenge the Spanish power.

Cemetery at Taos pueblo

Spanish settlers and Christian Indians did not expect the storm that fell on them on August 10, 1680. Throughout New Mexico, the Indians rose and slaughtered men, women and children. Both Spaniards and Christian Indians died in Popé’s rebellion. Priests suffered cruel tortures. Many Spaniards and Indians found refuge in the presidio (fortress) in Santa Fe. For eleven days the Spanish soldiers were able to defend the presidio; but when the rebel Indians cut off the presidio’s water supply, the defenders knew they had to leave. On August 21, one thousand men, women, and children, escorted by a small band of Spanish soldiers, fled from Santa Fe. The Spanish colony of New Mexico and its missions had been destroyed.

One pueblo, though, remained faithful. This was Isleta, which welcomed the refugees from Santa Fe. But the governor of New Mexico knew he could not remain in Isleta, and so he led the settlers 200 miles south to El Paso on the Rio Grande. The refugees suffered so from their 90-mile summer journey across the burning desert that they called it Jornada del Muerto (hor•NAH•dah del MWAIR•toh), the “journey of death.”

Spanish missions in Mexico, New Mexico, and California

For 12 years New Mexico remained under the control of Popé and other Pueblo Indian leaders. These were not good years. The Indians did not like the new government their leaders set up. Besides, without Spanish arms to protect them, the pueblos suffered attacks from the Comanches, Apaches, Utes, and Navajos. Finally, some Indians went to El Paso to ask the Spanish governor to return to New Mexico. In August 1692, Governor Diego de Vargas with 300 soldiers and Spanish and Indian colonists set off north towards Santa Fe. Having taken Santa Fe, Vargas spent the next year bringing all of New Mexico again under Spanish rule. Most pueblos surrendered without a battle; others resisted but were finally conquered.

In the years following the reconquest, New Mexico grew and prospered. New settlers came north from Mexico as well as missionaries who founded new missions to the Indians. Though some Indians revolted again in 1696, they could not overthrow the Spanish who had returned to New Mexico to stay.