Spanish Governors of New Mexico were the political chief executives of the province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México (New Mexico) between 1598, when it was established by an expedition by Juan de Oñate, and 1822, following Mexico's declaration of independence. New Mexico became a territory of the United States beginning in 1846, and a state in 1912.
History In 1598, Juan de Oñate pioneered 'The Royal Road of the Interior Land', or El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, between Mexico City and the Tewa village of 'Ohkay Owingeh', or San Juan Pueblo, founding the Nuevo México Province under the authority of Philip II. He also founded the settlement (a Spanish pueblo) of San Juan on the Rio Grande near the Native American Pueblo. In 1610, Pedro de Peralta, then governor, established the settlement of Santa Fe in the region of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Rio Grande. Missions were established for conversions and agricultural industry under the authority of the governor. The territory's Puebloan peoples resented the Spaniards denigration and prohibition of their traditional religion, and their encomienda system's forced labor. In 1680, the Pueblo Revolt occurred, and a final resolution included additional protections from Spanish efforts to eradicate their culture and religion, the issuing of substantial communal land grants to each Pueblo, and a public defender of their rights and for their legal cases in Spanish courts.
In January 1822, the last Governor under the Spanish regime, Facundo Melgares, lost the title of governor and was now called géfe político (political chief) and géfe militar (military chief). Subsequently, Melgares became the first Mexican Governor of New Mexico, serving until July 5, 1822 when he was succeeded by Francisco Xavier Chavez, though he would hold office for just five months.
Governors The following is a list of governors of the Province of New Mexico under the Viceroyalty of New Spain:New Mexico Commission of Public Records – New Mexico Governors Under the Administration of the Spanish Crown
1st stage (1598–1680) The political chiefs (géfe políticos) or governors were: Name Start End NotesJuan de Oñate 15981608Conquistador, explorer and administrator of New Spain. Son of explorer and conquistador Cristóbal de Oñate. Initiated NM Indian slaving through encomienda system. Allowed colonists to seize "orphaned" Native children, including from their parents.Bernardino de Ceballos 16081610Pedro de Peralta 16101613Bernardino de Ceballos (2nd term) 16131618 Juan Álvarez de Eulate 16181625 Felipe de Sotelo Osorio 16251630 Employed Indians to capture Indians from competing tribes for slave trade in New Mexico.Francisco Manuel de Silva Nieto 16301632Francisco de la Mora Ceballos 16321635Francisco Martínez de Baeza 16351637Luis de Rosas 1637spring 1641 Exploited Indian slaves in sweatshop manufacturing of textiles to export to Mexico. Imprisoned and killed when his government endedJuan Flores de Sierra y ValdésSpring 1641 Autumn 1641 Died in officeFrancisco Gomes 16411642 ActingAlonso de Pacheco y Herédia 16431643 Fernando de Argüello 16441647 Luis de Guzmán y Figueroa 16471649 Hernando de Ugarte y la Concha 16491652 Juan de Samaniego y Xaca 16521656 Juan Manso de Contreras 16561659Issued a "death sentence against the entire Apache nation and others of the same ilk," but allowed Spanish settlers to hold captured Indians as indentured servants.Bernardo López de Mendizábal 16591660Collected Indians as slaves and stole their livestock, clothing, salt, sleeping mats, and other items to give to authorities in Mexico.Diego Dionisio de Peñalosa Briceño y Berdugo16611664 Had a dispute with Franciscan missionary Alonso de Posada and was prosecuted by the Inquisition.Tomé Dominguez de Mendoza 16641664 Juan Durán de Miranda 1664 1665 Fernando de Villanueva 16651668Juan de Medrano y Mesía 16681671 Juan Durán de Miranda (2nd term) 1671 1675 Juan Francisco Treviño 1675 1679 His policies against the Pueblo Indians gave rise to their revolt.
2nd stage: Governors and Pueblo leaders during the revolt From 1680 until 1692, the Puebloans revolted against Spanish domination and lived under their own rulers. The political chiefs or governors and Pueblo leaders were: Spanish governors Start End NotesAntonio de Otermin 16791680 Titular governor until 1683Domingo Gironza Petriz Cruzate 1683 1686Pedro Reneros de Posada 16861689Domingo Gironza Petriz Cruzate (2nd term)16891691 Pueblo leaders StartEnd Notes Popé 16801685 Luis Tupatu 1685 1692
3rd stage (1688–1822) The political chiefs (géfe políticos) or governors were: Name Start End NotesDiego de Vargas 1688 (titular) 1691 (effective)1691 (titular) 1697 (effective) He placated the Pueblo revolt through a peace treaty with them.Pedro Rodríguez Cubero 16971703Diego de Vargas (2nd term) 17031704 Juan Páez Hurtado 17041705 Francisco Cuervo y Valdés June 1705August 1707Provisional Jose Chacón Medina Salazar y Villaseñor 17071712 Juan Ignacio Flores Mogollon 17121715 Felix Martínez de Torrelaguna 17151716ActingAntonio Valverde y Cosío 17161716 ActingJuan Páez Hurtado (2nd term) 1716 1717 Acting Antonio Valverde y Cosío (2nd term) 1718 1721 InterimJuan Estrada de Austria 17211723 Juan Domingo de Bustamante 17231731 Gervasio Cruzat y Gongora 1731 1736 Enrique de Olavide y Michelena 1736 1738 Gaspar Domingo de Mendoza 1739 1743 Joaquín Codallos 1743 1749 Tomás Vélez Cachupín 1749 1754Francisco Antonio Marín del Valle 1754 1760 Mateo Antonio de Mendoza 1760 1760 ActingManuel de Portillo y Urrisola May 10, 1760 1762 Tomás Vélez Cachupín (2nd term) 1762 1767 Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta 1767 1777 Francisco Trevre 1777 1777 ActingJuan Bautista de Anza 1778 1788 Fernando de la Concha 1789 1794 Fernando Chacón 1794 1804 Joaquín del Real Alencaster 1804 1807 Alberto Maynez 1807 1808 José Manrique 1808 1814 Alberto Maynez (2nd term) 1814 1816 Pedro María de Allande 1816 1818 Facundo Melgares 1818 1822
See also
History of New Mexico List of Mexican governors of New Mexico (1822–1846) List of U.S. governors of New Mexico (1846–present)
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