Po'pay

Lore & Background

Seventy Pueblo warriors demanded their release, and the governor complied, partly due to Apache and Navajo threats. After his release, Po'pay retired to Taos Pueblo and began planning a rebellion, promising a return to old ways of life. Po'pay murdered his own son-in-law, Nicolás Búa, fearing betrayal.

Pueblo Revolt

The Pueblo revolt was a millenarian movement. Po'pay promised peace, health, and prosperity after the Spanish were expelled. The plan was for each pueblo to kill the Spanish in its area, then advance on Santa Fe. The date was August 11, 1680.

Runners carried knotted cords; two Tesuque young men, Pedro Omtua and Nicolas Catua, were informed on by Christian Indians. On August 10, a Spanish priest was killed near Santa Fe. By August 15, about 1,000 Spaniards were besieged in the Governor's palace by a Pueblo army estimated at 2,500. Other survivors fled from Isleta southward.

On August 21, the Spanish broke out and trekked to El Paso, unmolested by the Pueblos. Nearly 2,000 survivors left. The revolt killed 400 Spanish, including 21 of 33 priests. Po'pay then set himself up as ruler of all Pueblos, attempting to destroy all Spanish traces, proclaiming "The God of the Christians is dead." A Spanish force of 300 was repelled in 1681, and another effort in 1687 failed.

However, drought, Apache and Navajo raids, and traditional rivalries divided the Pueblos. Po'pay was considered a tyrant. He was replaced by Luis Tupatu around 1683, who sought peace with the Spanish. Po'pay died probably in 1688.