Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza facts for kids

Tomé Domínguez III de Mendoza (born 1623, died after 1692) was a Spanish soldier and leader. He was born in what is now Mexico City and later became the acting Governor of New Mexico in 1664.

About Tomé Domínguez III

Tomé Domínguez III de Mendoza was born in Mexico City and was baptized on February 19, 1623. His father, also named Tomé, was a Spanish officer. The family moved to New Mexico in the mid-1630s. Tomé III was the brother of another well-known soldier, Juan Dominguez de Mendoza.

Tomé III joined the Spanish Army when he was young. By the early 1660s, he lived near Isleta Pueblo in New Mexico. Around 1656, he held important jobs as the local mayor (called alcalde mayor) and a top military leader (Lieutenant General) for the southern part of the region, known as Rio Abajo. His brother, Juan Dominguez, took over these roles in 1659. Later, Tomé III became a sergeant in the Spanish army.

In 1662, Tomé III was given several key positions in the New Mexico government. He became Lieutenant General again, a permanent council member (regidor), and treasurer for a religious organization called the Santa Cruzada.

Later, a group led by Tomé III had serious disagreements with the governor of the province, Juan Durán de Miranda. This led to Governor Durán de Miranda being temporarily held and his belongings taken.

Acting Governor of New Mexico

Tomé Domínguez III de Mendoza was chosen to be the acting Governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México in 1664. However, his time as governor was short. Governor Durán de Miranda was released from his temporary hold after explaining his side of the story in Mexico City. He returned and took back his position in New Mexico about a year later.

In 1676, Tomé III was appointed Lieutenant Governor of the province by Governor Juan Francisco Treviño. That same year, Tomé III was asked to gather a group of soldiers. Their mission was to protect areas like Socorro and Senecú from attacks. In 1677 and 1680, he joined the city council (cabildo) of Santa Fe, which was the capital of New Mexico. For many years, Tomé III continued to be involved in the politics and military of the province.

In August 1680, Tomé III and his family moved to El Paso del Norte (which is now Ciudad Juarez in modern Mexico). Many other people from Rio Abajo also moved there. In El Paso, he held several important positions, including a military leadership role called Maeses de Campo.

In 1681, Tomé Domínguez III de Mendoza passed away at the age of sixty-one.

Family Life

Mendoza was married twice. His first wife was Catalina López Mederos. They had six children: Tomé III, Antonio, Juana, Francisco, Juan, and Diego Domínguez de Mendoza. Francisco died in a conflict with the Pueblo people. Juan and Diego were injured in the same conflict. His second wife was Ana Velásquez, and they had two more children: José and Juana Domínguez.

Around 1659, Governor Bernardo López de Mendizábal gave Mendoza an encomienda south of Isleta. This was a system where Spanish leaders were given control over Native American communities. Mendoza used this to help Christianize the Native Americans and have them work. This work was a way to help pay back the Spanish Crown for services it provided to him.

The Domínguez family settled west of El Cerro de Tomé, near Tome Hill, by the Rio Grande. However, in 1680, a major event called the Pueblo Revolt happened. During this time, many members of the Domínguez family were tragically lost in the conflict with the Pueblo Native Americans. His sons Juan and Diego were injured in the fighting. Other family members, like grandchildren, sons-in-law, brothers, and nephews, may have also been lost.

Most of the family members who survived had to leave their homes. They moved south to El Paso del Norte (modern Ciudad Juarez). In 1682, Don Pedro de Tomé y Chaves, who was the brother of Mendoza's first wife, received permission to move to modern-day Mexico with his family and Mendoza's family. By 1683, Tomé lived in Los Sauces, north of Chihuahua, Mexico. After a peace agreement was made between the Pueblo people and the Spanish, Mendoza moved to Spain and did not return to New Mexico.

Legacy

The village of Tomé was built in the area where Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza once lived, and it was named after him.

See also

In Spanish: Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza para niños