Great Leader: Po'Pay of the Tewa, c 1630-1688
One of the earliest Native revolts in the American west wasn't against the U.S., but against the Spanish, and it took a truly great leader to pull it together. Po'Pay or Pope, c 1630-1688 was a religious leader of the Tewa living at what is now San Juan Pueblo or Ohkay Owingeh. How he rose to prominence isn't recorded, but the effects of his leadership would shake Spanish New Mexico to its core for years to come.
The Spanish had occupied what is now the Rio Grande area of New Mexico since 1598 and they'd shown little respect or diplomacy to the Natives. In addition to demands for land and food stuffs, they'd also demanded that the various tribes give up their Native ceremonies and ways of worship. While some Pueblo did convert to Christianity, most saw no harm with also carrying out traditions that they'd practiced since the dawn of time. Missionaries saw matters differently and continued to crack down on Native practices. Occasionally, one Pueblo band or another would revolt, but the Spanish brutally repressed any opposition. The Pueblo were not a single tribe, but several independent towns, each with their own customs and leadership. It would not be an easy matter to unite enough of them in opposition to Spanish rule.
In 1675, the Spanish arrested 47 Pueblo religious leaders on accusations of witchcraft. Pope was one of those leaders. Of the group, 3 were executed and one committed suicide. Others were publicly whipped. Whether Pope himself was beaten is unclear, but warriors from several of the Pueblos banded together and approached the Spanish governor to demand the release of the men. At the time, the colony was also being raided by Navajo and Apache bands and the governor had his hands full elsewhere. He released the remaining men who returned to their towns. Po'Pay, by all accounts a dynamic and charismatic individual, wasn't about to take the mistreatment lying down. He began quietly making links with leaders of other Pueblos to coordinate a general revolt against the Spaniards.
A day was set, August 13, 1680. Pope had retired to Taos Pueblo to plan the revolt further. Runners were sent to other pueblos with knotted cords, counting down the days. So intent was Pope on secrecy that he killed his own son-in-law, a Spaniard, to prevent any leaks. On August 10, 1680, a group of Pueblo anticipated the deadline and killed a Spanish priest only 9 miles from Santa Fe. By August 15, several more priests had been killed and hundreds of panicked colonists crowded into Santa Fe. Pope's men surrounded the city and besieged it. Other Spaniards took refuge in a friendly pueblo at Isleta. Still others fled to what is now El Paso and on to Mexico. Finally, on August 21, 1680, the Spanish broke out of Santa Fe and headed for El Paso. Pope's forces let them go. Nearly 2,000 Spanish evacuated New Mexico, a further 400 had been killed, including 21 of 33 priests serving in the colony.
The Spanish attempted several forays back to New Mexico, but Po'Pay's forces beat them back each time. However, the Apache, Navajo and Comanche were also taking advantage of the situation, and began raiding the Pueblo. The Spanish had provided protection for them in the past. As the immediate threat of Spanish occupation settled down, old rivalries among the various towns sprouted again. There was also the tension between those Pueblo who repudiated Christianity and those who had converted. Po'Pay died in 1688 and the alliance that had been his brainchild fell apart. In 1692, Governor Diego de Vargas successfully reoccupied Santa Fe. The Spanish returned but they were wise enough not to attempt reprisals against the Pueblo. The mission system, whereby Natives were forced to work mission lands, was not instituted in New Mexico. Missionaries allowed their converts to observe their ancient traditions in tandem with Christianity. Both Pueblo and Spaniards forged a common defense against the Apache, Comanche and Navajo. The result was a fusion of Spanish and Native culture that is still evident in New Mexico today.
A statue of Pope represents New Mexico in the Statuary Hall collection of the United States Capital.
The Spanish had occupied what is now the Rio Grande area of New Mexico since 1598 and they'd shown little respect or diplomacy to the Natives. In addition to demands for land and food stuffs, they'd also demanded that the various tribes give up their Native ceremonies and ways of worship. While some Pueblo did convert to Christianity, most saw no harm with also carrying out traditions that they'd practiced since the dawn of time. Missionaries saw matters differently and continued to crack down on Native practices. Occasionally, one Pueblo band or another would revolt, but the Spanish brutally repressed any opposition. The Pueblo were not a single tribe, but several independent towns, each with their own customs and leadership. It would not be an easy matter to unite enough of them in opposition to Spanish rule.
In 1675, the Spanish arrested 47 Pueblo religious leaders on accusations of witchcraft. Pope was one of those leaders. Of the group, 3 were executed and one committed suicide. Others were publicly whipped. Whether Pope himself was beaten is unclear, but warriors from several of the Pueblos banded together and approached the Spanish governor to demand the release of the men. At the time, the colony was also being raided by Navajo and Apache bands and the governor had his hands full elsewhere. He released the remaining men who returned to their towns. Po'Pay, by all accounts a dynamic and charismatic individual, wasn't about to take the mistreatment lying down. He began quietly making links with leaders of other Pueblos to coordinate a general revolt against the Spaniards.
A day was set, August 13, 1680. Pope had retired to Taos Pueblo to plan the revolt further. Runners were sent to other pueblos with knotted cords, counting down the days. So intent was Pope on secrecy that he killed his own son-in-law, a Spaniard, to prevent any leaks. On August 10, 1680, a group of Pueblo anticipated the deadline and killed a Spanish priest only 9 miles from Santa Fe. By August 15, several more priests had been killed and hundreds of panicked colonists crowded into Santa Fe. Pope's men surrounded the city and besieged it. Other Spaniards took refuge in a friendly pueblo at Isleta. Still others fled to what is now El Paso and on to Mexico. Finally, on August 21, 1680, the Spanish broke out of Santa Fe and headed for El Paso. Pope's forces let them go. Nearly 2,000 Spanish evacuated New Mexico, a further 400 had been killed, including 21 of 33 priests serving in the colony.
The Spanish attempted several forays back to New Mexico, but Po'Pay's forces beat them back each time. However, the Apache, Navajo and Comanche were also taking advantage of the situation, and began raiding the Pueblo. The Spanish had provided protection for them in the past. As the immediate threat of Spanish occupation settled down, old rivalries among the various towns sprouted again. There was also the tension between those Pueblo who repudiated Christianity and those who had converted. Po'Pay died in 1688 and the alliance that had been his brainchild fell apart. In 1692, Governor Diego de Vargas successfully reoccupied Santa Fe. The Spanish returned but they were wise enough not to attempt reprisals against the Pueblo. The mission system, whereby Natives were forced to work mission lands, was not instituted in New Mexico. Missionaries allowed their converts to observe their ancient traditions in tandem with Christianity. Both Pueblo and Spaniards forged a common defense against the Apache, Comanche and Navajo. The result was a fusion of Spanish and Native culture that is still evident in New Mexico today.
A statue of Pope represents New Mexico in the Statuary Hall collection of the United States Capital.
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