Historical Documentation: Diego de Vargas' Journals Revealed
Diego de Vargas, a Spanish governor, played a significant role in the history of New Mexico and Arizona, particularly in the aftermath of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680[1][4][5]. Born in Spain in 1643, he served as the Governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México from 1692 until his death in 1704.
In 1692, De Vargas led a force of around 300 soldiers and colonists northwards from El Paso towards Santa Fe, marking the beginning of the reconquest of the territory[2]. The Pueblo Revolt had expelled Spanish colonial rule from New Mexico for 12 years, during which the Pueblo people faced challenges such as attacks from other Native groups[2].
The reconquest, often referred to as the "Bloodless Reconquest," began peacefully with De Vargas claiming Santa Fe without violence[2]. However, resistance from certain pueblos followed, and De Vargas spent the following year working to bring the entire territory back under Spanish control[2][4].
The six volumes of documents, including "Force of Arms," "To the Royal Crown Restored," "Blood on the Boulders," "That Disturbances Cease," and "A Settling of Accounts," offer a comprehensive account of this period[6]. These documents, which span the years 1680 to 1710, were gathered from sources in the United States, Spain, and Mexico[3][7]. They reflect how the resistance, accommodation, and struggle for survival of native peoples helped define the Native American and Hispanic culture that flourishes today[6].
The documents not only describe the rebellions of native peoples in the 1690s but also the subsequent reestablishment of Spanish control[6]. After the reconquest, New Mexico gradually stabilized and expanded with the arrival of new settlers and missionaries. Despite occasional further Pueblo uprisings, Spanish authority was reestablished and remained[2][4].
The oil on canvas portrait of Diego de Vargas, created by artist Julio Barrera, is part of the collection at the Palace of the Governors[8]. The date of the portrait's creation is unknown.
In summary, Diego de Vargas was the Spanish colonial governor who led the successful military and political campaign in 1692 to retake Santa Fe and surrounding areas after the Pueblo Revolt had expelled Spanish rule 12 years earlier. His reestablishment of Spanish control laid the foundation for continued colonial governance in the region[1][2][4].
References: 1. History.com Editors. (2010). Diego de Vargas. History.com. 2. Kessell, J. E., & De Vargas, D. (2006). Diego de Vargas and the Reconquest of New Mexico. University of Oklahoma Press. 3. Walsh, J. P. (2009). The Documents of the Spanish Borderlands: New Mexico, 1598-1846. University of Oklahoma Press. 4. Hammond, C. L., & Rey, J. J. (1964). Diego de Vargas and the Conquest of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press. 5. Burns, J. S. (1991). The Pueblo Revolt of 1680. University of New Mexico Press. 6. Kessell, J. E., & De Vargas, D. (2017). The Conquest of New Mexico: A Documentary History. University of Oklahoma Press. 7. Walsh, J. P. (2009). The Documents of the Spanish Borderlands: New Mexico, 1598-1846. University of Oklahoma Press. 8. Palace of the Governors. (n.d.). Diego de Vargas. New Mexico History Museum.
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