User:Smallchief/Franciscans

User:Smallchief/Hotz

Franciscan missionaries in 17th century New Mexico ñ

Several Spanish expeditions visited the Pueblos of New Mexico in the 16th century beginning with Coronado in 1540-1542. The Spanish with their military prowess and firearms had squashed Pueblo resistance to oppose their presence. In 1598 when Juan de Oñate ventured northward the Pueblos were already cowed. Oñate's expedition to establish a Spanish settlement in New Mexico consisted of more than 500 colonists, including 129 soldiers and their families, plus 7,000 head of livestock. departed Santa Barbara, Chihuahua, the most northern Spanish settlement in New Spain (Mexico) and journeyed by oxcart overland 700 mile to found the colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo Mexico in the Rio Grande valley of present-day New Mexico. With Oñate were 10 Franciscan friars led by Alonso Martinez whose goal was to Christianize the Puebloan people residing in New Mexico. Oñate's instructions from the Spanish crown were to begin the process of Christianizing the "many large settlements of heathen Indians who live in ignorance of God and our holy Catholic faith." Competition between the Franciscans and most of the colonists, whose priority was finding a way to become wealthy, characterized the 17th century in New Mexico. The Puebloans were caught between the secular and religious competitors.

On his arrival in New Mexico, Onate called a meeting of Pueblo leaders and secured their acquiescence to having Franciscans in residence in eight different regions.

Despite deaths and departures, the number of Franciscans in New Mexico increased to 46 in 1631, including 35 friars and 11 lay brothers.