EXPLORING
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As if he and his surveyor were still laying out a new city, Don Pedro de Peralta still rides his horse and points to the right spot to build Santa Fe, the new capital of Spanish the province of Nuevo Mexico.
Of course, that was back in 1610 and Santa Fe is now a major American city. But this 15-foot tall monument, called "The Founding of Santa Fe," depicts that historic moment perfectly! After visiting several New Mexico sites where Hispanic monuments have been vandalized by radicals and removed by intimidated politicians, it was good to see Peralta still remembered this way. This bronze statue, created by renowned Southwest culture sculptor Dave McGary and erected in 1962, is magnificent! If you know Peralta's story, once you see this statue, you see that it makes perfect sense. Peralta had been instructed to find the right spot to build Santa Fe, and this is the moment when he found it. Shortly after arriving in Mexico City from Spain, Peralta was appointed governor of New Mexico on 31 March 1609. Luis de Velasco, the Viceroy of New Spain, named Peralta to replace Juan de Oñate as the second governor of Spanish New Mexico. Peralta was ordered to "proceed to New Mexico with the greatest dispatch accompanied by twelve soldiers and priests," according to the tablet next to his statue. And since Oñate had been recalled to face charges of maladministration, due to his clashes with Native Americans, the tablet notes that for Peralta, "Instructions were that en-route Indians were not to be harmed and just prices were to be paid for all sustenance and help. He was to take horses and livestock and a quantity of tools and implements for farming." |
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The tablet also notes that, "The new Governor was instructed to consult closely with religious and civil leaders, and carry out policies by common consent. He was admonished to proceed with great care and mature consideration."
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However, at that time, the capital of Nuevo Mexico was San Gabriel, which had been established by Oñate and had been deemed to be too far from Native American population centers.
And so, Peralta's first assignment was to convince some 200 residents of San Gabriel that their town was erroneously located in an area that suffered droughts, lacked fertile land, and impeded with commerce with Native American Pueblos. And then he had to move the capital to a new village, one he would call "La Villa de Santa Fe" — "The Town of the Holy Faith." "The Villa was to be divided into six districts and one plaza for the Royal (government) buildings" the plaque explains. "Each resident of the Villa was allotted lots for a house, garden, orchards, vineyards and olive groves, and four tracts for crops with water for irrigation." |
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The center of the villa, Santa Fe Plaza, was designed to hold "1,000 people, 5,000 head of sheep, 400 head of horses, and 300 head of cattle without crowding." It featured a chapel, a jail, an arsenal, and the governor's home and headquarters, built with three-foot-thick adobe walls to protect Spanish authorities from native attacks.
Peralta was even instructed on the kind of government he was expected to form. "The inhabitants thereof were empowered to elect their own aldermen and mayors, who were to try civil and criminal cases arising in the town and surrounding area," the plaque explains. "The town council was to elect a constable and scribe, and pass ordinances. These officials had no jurisdiction over Indians. Only the Governor and his lieutenancy were to have such powers." |
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Yet while Peralta fulfilled his mission, and served as governor for almost three years, Franciscan friars challenged his authority and removed him from power.
After forging documents making himself the head of the Catholic Church in New Mexico, Fray Isidrio de Ordoñez, declared Peralta a "schismatic heretic" excommunicated him, and had him arrested and imprisoned. Yes, the Franciscans arrested the governor! Yes, with forged authority! |
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Peralta was imprisoned for almost a year, until he was able to notify the viceroy, who ordered his release. When he went before the Mexican Inquisition, Peralta was vindicated and Fray Ordoñez was reprimanded. Yet, although Peralta, went on to serve the Spanish Crown in numerous other executive positions in present-day Mexico and Venezuela, he never returned to New Mexico in an official capacity.
And his Santa Fe Plaza residence went on to house many other Spanish, Mexican and American governors, on to serve as the seat of government for centuries, and on to become known as "The Palace of the Governors," featured in part 15 of this series, the oldest public building in continuous use constructed by European settlers in the continental United States" and a National Historic Landmark. |
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The Peralta monument is in Peralta Park, which is on a major street called Paseo de Peralta. And just a few blocks from here, still on Paseo de Peralta, there is a cross on top of a hill which is a monument to the 21 Franciscan friars killed in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 — 67 years and 23 Spanish governors after Peralta! It takes a little climbing, but I think we should go there next. Are you in shape? lol Stay tuned.
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To read other parts of this ongoing series, click: EXPLORING NEW MEXICO
