Biography

Juan Francisco Treviño was named governor of New Mexico

New Mexico

New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

 in 1675. He knew the existence of so-called Hombres Medicina (Medicine Men

Medicine man

"Medicine man" or "Medicine woman" are English terms used to describe traditional healers and spiritual leaders among Native American and other indigenous or aboriginal peoples...

) in Pueblo

Pueblo

Pueblo is a term used to describe modern communities of Native Americans in the Southwestern United States of America. The first Spanish explorers of the Southwest used this term to describe the communities housed in apartment-like structures built of stone, adobe mud, and other local material...

 Native American tribes, perhaps, through the Alonso de Posada's (a mission founder) work attempting to eliminate them. The governor ordered his troops to arrest 47 Medicine Men who were then accused of witchcraft

Witchcraft

Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...

.
Four of them ended up facing the gallows, and the rest were imprisoned and subjected to public humiliation. When news of what was happening came to the Pueblo villages, some Native American leaders decided to march theirmen to Santa Fe and demand the release of detainees. Most of the few troops of the governor were campaigning against the Apaches. Governor Treviño, frightened, bowed to pressure and released them all, including one named Popé

Popé

Popé or Po'pay was a Tewa religious leader from Ohkay Owingeh , who led the Pueblo Revolt against Spanish colonial rule in 1680.-Background:...

, who, after his release, began planning a revolt against the Spanish

Pueblo Revolt

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680, or Popé's Rebellion, was an uprising of several pueblos of the Pueblo people against Spanish colonization of the Americas in the province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México.-Background:...

to be held on August 11, 1680. In 1679, Trevino was replaced by Antonio de Otero in the government of New Mexico.