Diego de Vargas Conquistador, Governor of the Territory of Santa Fe County Date of Birth: 08.11.1643 Country: Spain

1. Don Diego de Vargas: Governor of New Mexico
2. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680
3. Vargas Reconquers New Mexico
4. The Vargas Rebellion

Don Diego de Vargas: Governor of New Mexico

Don Diego de Vargas was a conquistador and governor of the Santa Fe County Province, which is now the state of New Mexico, from 1690 to 1704.

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680

On August 10, 1680, the Pueblo Indians of northern New Mexico revolted against Spanish colonial rule. They besieged the city of Santa Fe, forcing the Spanish to retreat south to El Paso del Norte (modern-day Ciudad Juarez), where they remained for the next 12 years.

Vargas Reconquers New Mexico

In 1688, Don Diego de Vargas was appointed governor of New Mexico, but he did not officially arrive to take up the position until February 22, 1691. He was tasked with reconquering and recolonizing the territory lost during the Pueblo Revolt.

In July 1692, Vargas arrived in Santa Fe with a small force of soldiers. He surrounded the city and demanded that the Indians surrender, promising mercy to anyone who submitted to Spanish rule and the Christian faith. The Pueblo leaders agreed to Vargas' terms, and on September 14, 1692, he declared the territory reconquered.

Vargas' reconquest of the Pueblo territory is generally considered to have been bloodless, although when Vargas returned to Mexico in early 1693 to fetch another group of colonists, the Indians broke the peace agreement and reoccupied Santa Fe. Vargas and his soldiers then attacked the city, killing many of the rebels.

The Vargas Rebellion

Another rebellion occurred in 1696, resulting in the deaths of five missionaries and another 21 Spaniards. The war continued for several years, but the Spanish eventually reasserted control over the territory.