Nicolás de Aguilar facts for kids

Nicolás de Aguilar (born 1627; died 1666?) was an important official in New Mexico during the time of the Spanish Empire. He was a Mestizo, meaning he had both Spanish and Indigenous heritage. Aguilar stood up for the Pueblo Native Americans. They wanted to keep some of their traditional religious practices even after becoming Christian. This led to big disagreements with the Franciscan missionaries.

Because of these clashes, Aguilar was put on trial by the Mexican Inquisition. He was found guilty of heresy, which meant going against church teachings. This ended his public career, and he was told to leave New Mexico. However, it seems he might have returned later and passed away there.

Nicolás de Aguilar's Early Life and Career

Aguilar was born in 1627 in Yuriripundaro, a place in the Mexican state of Michoacán. His grandfather was one of the Spanish conquerors of the region. His grandmother and mother were likely from the Purépecha people, an Indigenous group.

When Aguilar was 18, he left home. He moved near the city of Parral, Chihuahua in northern Mexico. There, he worked as a miner and also as a soldier. Aguilar quickly showed he was brave and determined. He even won a legal case against people who tried to take his mine.

Later, Aguilar moved to New Mexico. He served as a soldier, rising through the ranks to sergeant and then adjutant. He also inspected trade groups traveling between New Mexico and El Paso. Nicolás de Aguilar married Catalina Márquez Núñez. They had four children: Gerónima, María, Isabela, and Nicolás.

In 1659, a new governor named Bernardo López de Mendizábal arrived in New Mexico. He chose Aguilar to be the chief civil official, called a Magistrate (or Alcalde Mayor). Aguilar was in charge of the Las Salinas region. This area included several Tompiro Pueblo villages. Today, you can see the ruins of these Pueblos at the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. The people in Las Salinas faced attacks from the Apache tribe. They survived by trading salt and farm goods for buffalo meat and skins.

Clashes with the Franciscan Missionaries

In New Mexico, the Franciscan missionaries had a lot of power over the Pueblo Native Americans. They often ran the Pueblo villages like a religious government. Several Franciscan missionaries lived in the Salinas Pueblos.

In 1659, Governor López visited Las Salinas. He noticed that the Franciscans were treating the Native Americans unfairly in some ways. The governor decided that Aguilar, as the civil official, should make sure civil laws were followed. He did not want the Franciscans to punish Native Americans for religious reasons. Aguilar followed this new policy very strongly. The Franciscans soon started calling him "Attila" because they were so angry with him.

Protecting Native American Rights

The Franciscans often made Native Americans work for them without pay. Aguilar stopped this. He made it illegal for Native Americans to work for the Franciscans without getting paid. This included singing in church choirs or volunteering. He also said that Native Americans should not be whipped or punished for church offenses.

One Sunday, Aguilar and a priest argued during a church service. Aguilar then told all the Native Americans to leave the church. Another time, he told Native Americans not to collect firewood for the friars. He said it was too dangerous because of the Apache Indians nearby.

Traditional Dances and Church Authority

The biggest problem for the missionaries was Governor López's decision to let the Pueblos practice their traditional dances and ceremonies. The Franciscans believed these dances were against their Christian faith. This was a direct challenge to the Church's authority. Aguilar made the situation worse by ordering Christian Native Americans to join in these traditional dances. Governor López also claimed that the Franciscans were not following their vows of poverty and chastity.

The Franciscans kept a record of all the things López, Aguilar, and other officials did against them. In 1660, the Franciscans publicly excommunicated Aguilar. This meant they officially kicked him out of the church. Aguilar turned his back on the church judge and said he didn't care about being excommunicated. The judge then quit, saying he didn't want to deal with people who didn't respect God or church rules.

In May 1662, the Franciscans had Aguilar and Governor López arrested. They were sent in chains to Mexico City to face trial by the Inquisition. Aguilar was accused of simple heresy.

Trial Before the Inquisition

Nicolás de Aguilar faced the powerful Inquisition officials without fear. He was described as a 36-year-old man who was "large, rough, and somewhat brown." He wore simple, worn-out clothes. All his belongings fit into a small box. It held an extra set of clothes, a few religious books, and some good luck charms and herbs.

He was accused of stopping the missionary work. He was also charged with causing bad feelings toward the Franciscan friars. The charges also included disrespecting the church and its teachings, and encouraging Native American Kachina dances. Aguilar strongly defended himself, saying he was innocent of all charges.

His trial lasted 19 months. In the end, he was found guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to a public auto de fe, which was a public ceremony of punishment. He was also banned from living in New Mexico for ten years. And he was forbidden from holding any government office for the rest of his life. One of the four judges disagreed with the ruling. His punishment was actually quite mild, considering the serious charges. Governor López died during his own trial.

Nicolás de Aguilar's Legacy

Many historians used to describe Aguilar as a "dishonest helper" with a "terrible anger." However, more recent scholars have started to admire his brave stand against the Franciscans. As a Mestizo, Aguilar was not at the top of Spanish society. He might have truly felt sympathy for the Native Americans. He may also have disliked how the Catholic priests ruled over them. His strong defense of himself before the Inquisition is also admirable. Most people on trial before the Inquisition would simply beg for mercy.

The defeat of Aguilar and Governor López by the Franciscans was a lost chance. It was probably the last time the Spanish government in New Mexico could have made the Native Americans less angry. After this, Spanish officials knew not to upset the Franciscan priests. In 1680, the Pueblo Revolt happened. The Pueblos drove out the Spanish. They especially targeted and killed most of the priests in New Mexico. The Salinas Pueblos had already been abandoned in the 1670s due to Apache raids, hunger, and dry weather.

One historical source suggests that Aguilar died in 1666 in Bernalillo, New Mexico. If this is true, it means he broke the rule that banned him from returning to New Mexico. His wife and children seem to have stayed in New Mexico. His children took their mother's last name, Márquez.