The Pueblo Great Revolt: The Beginning of the Amerindian State of the Southwest
The Spanish interference in the culture of the Pueblo by 1680 many had thought, had finally gone too far. So thought the man named Po’pay, a Tewa shaman and a man of the greatest of convictions for seeing the ending of Spanish influence in the lands of his people. He was a great man indeed, seen as the uniter of the Amerindian tribes of the North American Southwest he would command a series of plots that would see a generally successful buffer state to Spanish ambitions in the North American Southwest and let a new period of culture and integration flourish between the Pueblo, Apache an, and other tribes of the area.
The Pueblo Revolt came about on August 11, 1680 where previously Po’pay had communicated the date of the plot to the various tribes that had joined with him via a cunning system of knotted cords, where each day until the day of the revolt was marked by a cord undone. Po’pay for a time went through much worry and fear that the plot would be discovered by the Spanish, going so far as to strange his brother-in-law who was lenient to the Spanish. Yet the time of the Great Revolt came without a word to the Spanish, and like that it was on! [1]
The Pueblo went on a rampage, killing over four hundred Spanish settlers and Franciscan friars, doing much to expel their people from the Pueblos. Many of the people retreated to Santa Fe, where at the last minute the Tigua Pueblo who had sat on the fence on joining the revolt or not finally decided to join Po’pay, and helped send the Spanish settlers packing, killing the Spanish governor Antonio de Otermin and taking over Santa Fe by August 18. [2] The survivors flee southward to El Paso de Norte.
It is after this that Po’pay calls forth the Pueblo people to meet in Santa Fe, where he loudly proclaims that with this victory all of the area known as New Mexico is under their influence leading to much pride in the assembled leaders and peoples. Though just as quickly Po’pay lays down that their new found independence will not easily be won or kept or be peaceful. In the face of future raids by not only the Spanish but also the neighboring nomadic tribes that will look to prey upon their people, he also warns that the future will not be kind and will seek to test their resolve with drought and famine. For a moment it seems that the alliance of the Pueblos may balk as many fear these events but the leader of the Tigua Pueblo declares that his people will face these storms with the others, deciding that now that he has thrown in his lot with the Great Revolt there is little choice then to resist. This swings the Pueblos to unity, and forming what is known as the Santa Fe Council, declare Po’pay their elected political and spiritual leader.
Accepting the position, Po’pay he immediately announces that the Spanish influence in their territory needs to be dealt with, namely those who have converted and the large tracts of land left by the Spanish settlers. Begrudgingly he allows for the different tribes to deal with the Spanish as they wish, granting them autonomy on the matter which he does only as a thanks to the Tigua and other tribes who had sided with him and were influenced by the Spanish. The land is divided in a hot debate between the Pueblos which again nearly splits their people, narrowly being accepted by all with the declaration that Santa Fe is to be populated by members of all the tribes. [3]
The last matter undertaken before the Santa Fe Council convenes and Po’pay leads raids on the Spanish to the south and inviting the Piro Pueblo to their cause is the matter of the local nomadic tribes. It is decided that the Pueblo will send representatives to the nomadic tribe to the northwest, the Dine, and invite them to join the Pueblo. [4]
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[1] OTL the plot was discovered before hand.
[2] Here de Otermin is killed, where he survived, the Tigua Pueblo join in and end the siege of Santa Fe quicker and better unite with their fellow Pueblo.
[3] It seems OTL soon after the success of the revolt Po’pay fades into the background and allows the tribes to resume their bickering which fractures their unity and leaves them weak to raids.
[4] *Gasp* the Navajo and the Pueblo together?!?