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The Oñate Entrada: Spanish Conquest of New Mexico 1598
Description
In 1598, Juan de Oñate led a massive expedition north from Mexico into what is now New Mexico, aiming to establish a permanent Spanish colony among the Pueblo peoples. This episode explores the motivations behind the entrada, the brutal Acoma Massacre of 1599, and the fantastical legend of the Seven Cities of Cíbola—which turned out to be the humble Zuni pueblos. We examine Oñate's career, his harsh encomienda policies, and the long-term consequences for Pueblo-Spanish relations, including the eventual Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Along the way, we discuss the role of Nahuatl-speaking Tlaxcalan allies who accompanied the expedition, and the fraught legacy of Oñate in modern New Mexico, where statues of him have been removed and controversies still simmer.