1550: Juan de Onate was born in the New World in Zacatecas, Mexico
His family was of the Spanish nobility and his father Don Cristobal de Onate had travelled to the New World as a Spanish soldier and settled in the new country
Juan de Onate was well educated and raised in a family who were soldiers, explorers and the first of the Spanish colonists
Juan de Onate married Isabel de Tolosa Cortes Moctezuma, granddaughter of Hernando Cortes (the Spanish conqueror of Mexico and the Aztec Empire) and great granddaughter of the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma Xocoyotzin
Juan de Onate and Isabel had a son and a daughter
Juan de Onate spent his early life leading campaigns against the Chichimec Indians He also conducted searches for silver. During this time he played a major role in spreading Catholicism and establishing missions in the newly conquered territory
1595: In 1595 Juan de Onate received instructions fro King Philip II of Spain to continue his work further and colonize the region of the upper Rio Grande and New Mexico
Three years passed in preparing for the exploration and new colonists to accompany the expedition
1598: The expedition started in January with 175 soldiers, their families and new settlers. They also took over 5,000 head of cattle and sheep in preparation of their colonisation plans
The expedition of Juan de Onate explored the territory of Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico. The road across this land is referred to as El Camino Real
Hopes and expectations were high - the colonists expected to find gold or silver
1598: April 30 Juan de Onate made a formal declaration of possession of New Mexico
1598: July Juan de Onate established the headquarters of the New Mexico colony at the first Spanish capital of San Juan de los Caballeros at the Tewa village of Ohke
1598: Juan de Onate holds a festival to give thanks for a safe passage across the Rio Grande River - it is referred to as the first Thanksgiving feast in America - 23 years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock
The colonists searched in vain for silver and soon became disillusioned with the expedition leading to desertion, and dissent. Don Juan de Onate proved to be a proud, arrogant and strict leader - dissenting colonists and Indians were dealt with harshly
New expeditions and explorations continued still hoping to find silver or gold
1601 June 23 - Don Juan de Onate encounters Plains Apache at the Canadian River whilst searching for the Seven Cities of Gold (Cibola)
Meanwhile the conditions at the colony proved intolerable - lack of food, no silver and troubles with the natives led to widespread desertion - only a few of the original colonists remained
News of conditions in the colony reached New Spain
1605: The government initiate an inquiry into the situation in New Mexico and the treatment of the Indians by Juan de Onate
At the same time Oņate launched his last major expedition, from the Zuni pueblos to the Colorado River and down it to the Gulf of California
1605: Juan de Onate starts his final expedition from the Colorado River to the Gulf of California
1605 April 16: Juan de Onate visits El Morro inscribing his name on Inscription Rock. This rock is the site of ancient Native American petroglyphs
1606: King Philip III of Spain orders Juan de Onate to Mexico City until allegations against him could be investigated but Juan de Onate does not receive the orders
1608: Juan de Onate is removed as governor and sent to Mexico City to be tried for mistreatment of the Indians and abuse of power
1613: Don Juan de Onate finally faced charges and was fined, banished from New Mexico permanently, and banished from Mexico City for four years
He eventually went to Spain where the king gave him the position of a mining inspector
1626: Juan de Onate died in Spain on June 3, 1626
