This Ancient Pueblo Became Ground Zero for the Most Successful Indigenous Uprising of 1680 America

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, New Mexico

The Spanish thought they owned New Mexico. For 80 years they forced Pueblo people to abandon their gods, pay taxes in crops, and work like slaves. Then Popé of Ohkay Owingeh said enough.

On August 10, 1680, warriors from dozens of pueblos attacked at once, and no Spanish returned for 12 years.

Here’s what happened in this place you can still explore today.

Popé’s Public Punishment

In 1675, Spanish Governor Treviño cracked down on traditional religious practices. His soldiers arrested 47 medicine men, including Popé from Ohkay Owingeh. They were accused of practicing forbidden ceremonies.

Three medicine men were hanged. One killed himself in prison. Popé and the others were publicly whipped in Santa Fe’s plaza. This public shame turned Popé’s personal anger into a plan for rebellion.

Seventy Pueblo warriors marched to Santa Fe after the arrests. They confronted the governor, whose soldiers were away fighting Apaches, and demanded the prisoners’ release.

After gaining freedom, Popé fled north to Taos Pueblo to begin planning.

Planning the Rebellion at Taos

For four years, Popé worked from Taos Pueblo to build an alliance. He needed to unite communities that spoke six different languages across 400 miles of land.

His plan required perfect timing. Each pueblo would attack nearby Spanish settlements on the same day. Then all forces would join together to capture Santa Fe.

Secrecy was vital. Popé reportedly killed his own son-in-law after suspecting he might reveal the plot to Spanish officials.

Popé promised spiritual rewards after victory. Once the Spanish were gone, he said, the ancient gods would bring rain, good harvests, and healing from diseases brought by Europeans.

The Knotted Cord System

Popé created a clever communication system using knotted cords. These deer-hide cords served as countdown calendars to coordinate the attack.

Fast runners delivered these cords to leaders across all pueblos. They traveled dangerous routes, risking capture by Spanish patrols.

Each pueblo received the same instructions: untie one knot every morning. When the last knot was gone, all would attack on that day.

The attack was set for August 11, 1680. This gave enough time for messengers to reach even distant communities.

Two young men from Tesuque Pueblo, Pedro Omtua and Nicolas Catua, carried these crucial cords to southern pueblos.

When The Spanish Discovered The Plot

On August 9, 1680, Spanish officials learned of the coming revolt. Southern Tiwa leaders warned them, likely hoping for favor with colonial authorities.

Spanish soldiers caught the two Tesuque messengers while they carried knotted cords south of Santa Fe. Under torture, they revealed the entire plan. Spanish officials quickly prepared defenses.

Word of the capture reached Popé at Taos. He made a quick decision. New runners raced to all pueblos with urgent news: the revolt would begin August 10, one day earlier than planned, before Spanish reinforcements could arrive.

The Revolt Begins

Dawn on August 10, 1680, brought coordinated attacks across New Mexico. About 2,000 Pueblo fighters faced only 170 Spanish soldiers. This overwhelming advantage proved decisive in the early fighting.

Warriors first secured Spanish horses to prevent escape or warnings from spreading. They blocked roads to Santa Fe, cutting off Spanish settlements from each other.

Pueblo forces also cut water supplies to Spanish farms and the capital. This tactic weakened the colonizers’ ability to withstand a long siege. Apache and Navajo fighters also joined some of the attacks.

Missions Burned And Priests Killed

Mission churches burned throughout New Mexico as symbols of religious control. Pueblo fighters destroyed buildings they had been forced to build with their own hands.

Twenty-one of the thirty-three Franciscan missionaries died in the first days. Warriors targeted priests who had been harshest in attacking traditional ways.

Rebels destroyed religious items with special focus. These acts symbolized taking back spiritual freedom after decades of forced Catholicism.

By August 13, just three days into the revolt, nearly every Spanish settlement outside Santa Fe lay in ruins. The speed of this success shocked colonial officials.

The Fall of Santa Fe

Pueblo forces surrounded Santa Fe by mid-August. The coordinated siege showed how effective Popé’s leadership had been.

From August 15 to September 21, 1680, the capital remained under constant pressure. Pueblo warriors controlled the hills around town and cut off water sources.

Governor Otermín organized defenses with remaining soldiers. They barricaded streets and prepared for house-to-house fighting.

After weeks of siege, food and water ran low inside Santa Fe. On September 21, Pueblo leaders allowed Spanish survivors to leave.

The defeated colonists marched 300 miles south to El Paso del Norte (now Ciudad Juárez, Mexico).

Erasing Spanish Cultural Influence

After victory, Popé ordered the removal of all Spanish cultural elements. He wanted to purify Pueblo society of European influences.

People washed themselves with yucca root in rivers. This ritual symbolically removed the mark of Christian baptism.

Leaders canceled all Christian marriages. Couples held new ceremonies following traditional ways that had been forbidden for generations.

Popé banned the Spanish language throughout the territory. Communities returned to their native tongues as part of reclaiming their identity.

Traditional ceremonies returned to public spaces. Sacred dances and rituals that had been performed in secret for decades now took place openly.

Popé’s Brief Leadership

Popé became the main leader of the freed Pueblo territories. This created the first unified Native government in the region’s history.

He focused on restoring traditional spiritual practices across all communities. This religious revival formed the center of his leadership approach.

Problems arose about a year after the revolt. Popé reportedly became too controlling, creating tension among communities used to making their own decisions.

Different groups formed between and within pueblos. Some communities wanted to keep certain Spanish practices, especially farming tools and methods.

Records show Popé lost power and disappeared from leadership. He likely died before 1692, never seeing the Spanish return that would end Pueblo independence.

Twelve Years of Independence

Pueblo communities remained free from Spanish rule for twelve years, from 1680 to 1692. This made it the the most successful anti-colonial resistance in North American history.

Spanish forces tried several times to retake the territory but failed. By 1683, some Pueblos facing drought and raids cautiously explored peace deals with Spanish authorities.

Visiting Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo

You’ll find Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo 25 miles north of Santa Fe at 68 NM-291, Ohkay Owingeh, NM 87566.

The pueblo welcomes visitors Monday through Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no entrance fee, though donations are appreciated.

Start at the tribal administration office for visitor information and permits. Photography requires a $10 permit and is restricted during ceremonies. Feast Day on June 24 offers the best opportunity to experience traditional dances and foods.

Don’t miss the Oke-Oweenge Crafts Cooperative where you can purchase authentic artwork directly from Pueblo artisans.

Read More from WhenInYourState.com:

• Ancestral Puebloans Built a Salt Empire at This Site, Then Spanish Missions Killed It in Just Decades
• Ancient Puebloans Hand-Carved Homes, Petroglyphs & Steps Into These Volcanic Canyons
• This Ancient Puebloan Complex is So Well-Built, Over 400 Rooms Still Exist Today