BLog 2

Bibu Subedi

10/19/13

Mrs. Schlabach

Juan de Onate

1550, Juan de Onate was born in Zacatecas, Mexico. He was married to Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Montezuma and had two kids. “His father was a prominent Zacatecas mine owner and encomendero (“hold of labor system that employed mainly by the Spanish”)” (“ONATE, JUAN DE”). From his dad he was “leading a campaigns against the… Chichimec Indian (around)…Zacatecas (and looking) for silver”(“ONATE, JUAN DE”). Also establishing of missions in the conquered territory. “In 1995, King Philip of Spain chose Onate to lead an expedition (northern Mexico)”(“Don Juan de Onate”).

Hero and villain both can be found on a person over time because of their life situation. Onate was a hero for his country Spain; on the other hand he was a villain for his enemies. He was a hero to Spanish because “spread Roman Catholicism"("Don Juan de Onate") and expanding Spanish settlement in northern Mexico ("Don Juan de Onate"). In the eyes of his enemies Onate was a villain since he attacked, killed and touchier and claims their land for the benefit of Spain colonization.

As a hero, they put their life forward in service of humanity. Likewise Spain’s hero was Juan de Onate because showing the bravery he was able to enforce the population of native at El Paso del Norte. The group of his “600 to 700” colonists were first European settlement in North America"("Don Juan de Onate"). Later Onate captured the land of the Acoma Pueblo and the remained people out of the war were forced to convert into Catholicism, which was one of the orders given to Onate by the Spain King. Another order he was given was to find silver, which he was looking around but he never did.

As a villain, they don’t really care about other, beside themselves or their kind. Likewise Onate was believed as non-hearted man to the Natives Americans. For examples in 1599 the Acoma didn’t pay “food tax” to the Spanish…when he sent some men, 13 were killed including his nephew by the Acoma, “Onate ordered that the village be destroyed” (“Don Juan de Onate”). The Acoma remained population; fighting men were to cut off one of their leg, other were cut off their hands and children were send to Mexico to be raised by missionaries and believed sold as slaves (“Don Juan de Onate”). Also he captured many other Natives Americans land, destroyed their livestock, and also killed people like the Hopi and Zuni pueblo. 

After reading the articles, I found person could be both hero and a villain depending on their situation as time passes. Onate was there to earn his title and look for silver and gold. I think Onate was a both because he was the first European settlement in North America. On the eye of Spaniards he was thought as hero by providing them new land for colonization. “He was fined, banished from new Mexico permanently, and banished from Mexico city for four”(“ONATE, JUAN DE”), which show as a good leader he was guilty of what he had done to the Acoma people. He never returned back. Mostly Native Americans believed he was a butcher villain for example the friendly Acoma pueblos who were forced to fight to protect their home. Many were killed and remained population were torched, enslaved and forced to follow Catholicism. Onate was did break away the laws and of what he had done to the innocent Natives. They were forced to give away their land, culture and religions.

Cited work

“Onate, Juan”. Texas State Historical Association”.

URL= tsha.org.web. 20 oct. 2013.

“Don Juan de Onate”. PBS/NMPBS”.

URL= pbs.org.web Oct 20. 2013