Biography
Juan de Onate was a Spanish conquistador known for establishing New Mexico as a colony for Spain. He was born in 1550 in Zacatecas, Mexico. His mother(Catalina de Salazar) and father(Cristobal de Onate) were prominent aristocrats who owned their own mine and encomienda. Even during his early life he was leading military campaigns against the Chichimeca Indians and prospecting silver. Later in life he would marry Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma, a descendant of Hernan Cortes and famous Aztec emperor Moctezuma, which would award him with even more status. Juan de Onate would pass away in 1630.
Before he died, however, he accomplished something very significant. In 1595 Onate was granted permission to conquer New Mexico and govern it as his own. After a few setbacks Onate began his expedition in 1598 with 400 settlers.Upon arrival, he set up his headquarters in San Juan Pueblo, a village located by the San Juan river. He sent out his settlers to search for treasure that, as it turned out, did not exist.
Juan de Onate’s downfall began with this treasure. His men, becoming dispirited in their search for the illusive goods, wanted to return to Mexico. Infuriated by their nerve to question him, Onate executed some of his most important men and set out to look for the treasure himself in June of 1601. He returned in November of that same year with no treasure to a nearly deserted colony. Everybody had left while he was gone, and Onate only had one hope left for redemption. In 1604 he led 30 soldiers on an expedition to the Gulf of California and the Colorado River in hopes of finding gold. When this attempt failed he finally faced the consequences of his actions and went on trial for the crimes he had committed in executing his own people, and torturing the natives. Onate was convicted of three crimes: cruelty, immorality, and false reporting. The result was the removal of his titles, he was fined, and he was exiled from the colony. Although his sentence was reversed later on he still was not able to regain his position in office or redeem his status.
Juan de Onate was a Spanish conquistador known for establishing New Mexico as a colony for Spain. He was born in 1550 in Zacatecas, Mexico. His mother(Catalina de Salazar) and father(Cristobal de Onate) were prominent aristocrats who owned their own mine and encomienda. Even during his early life he was leading military campaigns against the Chichimeca Indians and prospecting silver. Later in life he would marry Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma, a descendant of Hernan Cortes and famous Aztec emperor Moctezuma, which would award him with even more status. Juan de Onate would pass away in 1630.
Before he died, however, he accomplished something very significant. In 1595 Onate was granted permission to conquer New Mexico and govern it as his own. After a few setbacks Onate began his expedition in 1598 with 400 settlers.Upon arrival, he set up his headquarters in San Juan Pueblo, a village located by the San Juan river. He sent out his settlers to search for treasure that, as it turned out, did not exist.
Juan de Onate’s downfall began with this treasure. His men, becoming dispirited in their search for the illusive goods, wanted to return to Mexico. Infuriated by their nerve to question him, Onate executed some of his most important men and set out to look for the treasure himself in June of 1601. He returned in November of that same year with no treasure to a nearly deserted colony. Everybody had left while he was gone, and Onate only had one hope left for redemption. In 1604 he led 30 soldiers on an expedition to the Gulf of California and the Colorado River in hopes of finding gold. When this attempt failed he finally faced the consequences of his actions and went on trial for the crimes he had committed in executing his own people, and torturing the natives. Onate was convicted of three crimes: cruelty, immorality, and false reporting. The result was the removal of his titles, he was fined, and he was exiled from the colony. Although his sentence was reversed later on he still was not able to regain his position in office or redeem his status.