"By the opening of the summer in 1680, a precarious peace lingered in New Mexico. A long drought eradicated crops and livestock. Apaches raided and stole what little food remained on an increasingly frequent basis. Nerves frayed and the pueblo people, who may have sought refuge in their own religious customs, were denied their tradition by Spanish missions.

Among those punished by the church for a dogged devotion to pueblo religion was a war chief from San Juan Pueblo whom the Spanish knew as El Popé. Now regarded as one of the greatest of Pueblo leaders, a scant historical record explains Popé's rise. Most likely, he narrowly escaped execution in 1675 in a purge conducted by missionaries to weaken pueblo religiosity. Five years later, still harboring rightful anger, Popé probably brought his cause to a tribal council.

No written explanation of that meeting exists, but it is likely that Popé used the council to gain the loyalty of other pueblo leaders. They also may have created a strategy to attack and surround the Spanish before the arrival of Spanish goods from Mexico. On Aug. 12, the council reasoned, the Spanish would be most vulnerable. The settlers would have little reason to suspect an attack.

Despite the great distances that separated the pueblos, Popé's leadership brought the tribes together and coordinated an attack. Even with a head start, the Spanish could do little to defend themselves. The pueblo inhabitants vastly outnumbered the Hispanic farmers and missionaries. Most of New Mexico folded in relatively short order."

Get the Story:
Jason Strykowski: When the pueblos booted the Spanish (The Santa Fe New Mexican 7/3)