"Land of Enchantment"

A smattering of my notions of the early history of what was to become New Mexico. As always, my hope is that this be a conversation starter.

The Pueblo revolt of 1680 probably began at the Taos Pueblo. Pope was probably an important Pueblo leader. Many of the Spaniards retreated to Mexico. Some criollos headed up river.

The 'Spanish' returned in 1692 under Diego de Vargas. A considerable number of present day NM families could trace their arrival to the time of the Vargas expedition. There are some who remember the family names of those colonists.

We could argue that New Mexico was Spain's remotest colony. Important supplies which helped to sustain the colony came over a 2000 mile mule trail from Mexico City. As Spain's power declined the colonists in NM were left more and more to sustain themselves as they could. The Indians were rapidly become fine horsemen riding decedents of good Spanish horse stock.
They raided the colonists well armed with lance, bow and war club. The colonists defended themselves with lance, bow, and long knives.

Haciendas, Missions, and Pueblos came to be abandoned before pressure from the Navajo, Apache, soon followed by Comanche. Comanche were early armed with French muscats. Colonist faced them mostly with lance and bow and few fire arms and little scarce powder.

As the above was taking place everything else was going. The Inquisition has hot. Some up-river colonists courted Apache and Apache them. Some down river colonists Pueblos and Navajo were intermarrying. 'Natives' and 'Europeans' were learning much from their close association.

Some powerful forces seemed sure that they already knew enough.

A Question of Indians

What kind of food was "pechita" among Spanish speaking Indians near the boarder of Northern Mexico and Southern California?

Who has information about the hot and cold water wells of Coachella Valley Indians from the earliest times?

What did "Piatopa" mean to Coahuila Indians and how was it related to Mt San Gorgonio?

In What ways are the Pima similar to the Cocomaricopa?

How are the Apache similar to the Yuma?

What is the history of the Yaqui as miners?

Is there a good translation of Geronimo Boscana's ethnographic work on the Luiseno of Southern California? It was written not long before 1830.

Where can I get information about the Yaqui-Mayo rebellion of 1740?

What is known of the early sea trade of the Yaqui with people of Baja California? The trade was active in about 1800. At that time Yaqui were crossing the gulf in their 'canoes' from Guyams to Loreto about 140 miles across pretty rough water.

Was there and Apache revolt in New Mexico in about 1680?

Who will tell us something about the Hachedun Indians who lived along the Colorado River?

The Pueblo revolt of 1680 probably began at the Taos Pueblo. "Revolt" here refers to the organized and focused resistance of the non-nomadic natives of the Rio Grand area against the Hispanic colonists settling along the Rio Grand river, mostly in what is now New Mexico.
Most of the Spaniards with the resources to do so, retreated to Mexico. Others scattered. Some even marrying into nomadic tribes.

Pope was probably the most important Indian leader of that rebellion.

Spaniards returned to the Rio Grand valley of what is now New Mexico in 1692 under the leadership of Diego de Vargas.

Spain's power was beginning to decline and the upper Rio Grand was probably her most remote colony. Taos was supplied by land over a 2000 mile trail from Mexico City. So the defenders of th Colonists faced native opposition of superior numbers who were often better mounted and armed then they. The spainards fought with lance and bow as did the Pueblos.