Colonizer Born In Zacatecas
Oñate's father, Cristobal de Oñate, earned viceroy's favor during rebellion

The Journal is publishing a biweekly series of history articles to commemorate the settlement of New Mexico by Juan de Oñate in 1598. This one covers the Oñate family origins through the decision in 1595 that permitted him to colonize New Spain's north country.

By Miguel Encinias
For the Journal
Juan de Oñate's father, Cristobal de Oñate, was born in a beautiful Basque village nestled in the Pyrenees that bore the family name. He came to the New World as a young assistant to the royal accountant of New Spain while Hernando de Cortés was still governor.
For a while Cristobal de Oñate allied himself with Nuno de Guzmán, who had been appointed president of the audiencia (tribunal) that was named to govern New Spain after Cortés was removed as governor -- but made a marquis -- by King Charles I.
Guzmán was soon denounced by Bishop Zumarraga and others for his many misdeeds, particularly his cruelty to the natives.
Although he was removed from office, Guzmán organized a small army on his own and headed north to settle an area later called Nueva Galicia.
Oñate, who went with him, participated in the founding of Culiacán and Guadalajara.
Guzmán became governor of this area, but soon was in trouble again and was dismissed by the first viceroy in New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza. Mendoza appointed Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in his place.
Oñate, who managed to avoid the excesses of Guzmán, survived politically and was appointed interim governor of Nueva Galicia until Coronado could take office.
He was reappointed to the office again when Coronado was chosen to explore Cibola and search for the cities of gold.
While Coronado was exploring an area that ranged from the Grand Canyon to the Great Plains, back home the Guachichile Indians rebelled, then retreated to the rugged hills.
Cristobal de Oñate tried to dislodge them from their boulder fortresses, but failed. The natives then attacked Guadalajara, but in a counterattack Oñate forced them to retreat to the largest of the penoles (huge rock hills), which was called Mixton.
Viceroy Mendoza assembled the largest army assembled in the New World up to that time and put an end to the rebellion.
Cristobal de Oñate's actions during the rebellion earned him a very favorable reputation and kept him close to Mendoza and his successors.
When silver was found on a hill in the Zacateco Indian region, Cristobal de Oñate and three colleagues founded the city of Zacatecas, and all became rich.
Oñate built an estate, which is still standing today, with a view of the silver-laden hill.
It was in Zacatecas that Juan de Oñate was born a few years later to Cristobal de Oñate and his wife, Catalina de Salazar. Salazar was born in Granada, Spain. She had come to New Spain with her daughter, some say, after deserting her first husband. The record is not certain whether Juan de Oñate was born in 1550 or 1552.
As a young man, Oñate went on several war campaigns against the Chichimeca Indians, keeping company with several well-placed individuals, including the viceroy's son, Luis de Velasco II.
Later, he took over management of the family mines after his father died.
He married Isabel Dolosa Cortes y Moctezuma, who had quite an impressive lineage.
She was the great-granddaughter of Moctezuma, the great Meshican leader; the granddaughter of Cortés, the conqueror; and the daughter of Juan de Dolosa, who with Oñate's father helped found Zacatecas.
The Oñates had two children, Maria and Cristobal, who was named after his grandfather and would accompany his father to New Mexico.
It is believed Oñate's wife died in 1593 or 1594, but again the record is not certain. Her death could very well have been a motivating factor in Oñate's decision to seek a contract to settle New Mexico.
Viceroy Velasco wrote in a letter to his replacement, the Count of Monterrey, about the troubles he and his predecessor had experienced in finding someone to "undertake this pacification" of New Mexico.
"Since don Juan de Oñate had become a widower, and was free to negotiate in regard to this project, I chose him and signed a contract with him," the viceroy wrote.
The contract permitting Oñate to legally settle New Mexico was signed on Sept. 21, 1595.
NEXT: Doubts and delays.

Miguel Encinias is an Albuquerque historian. His novel, "Two Lives for Oñate," was recently published by the University of New Mexico Press.