First European Settlement in New Mexico: San Juan de los Caballeros (1598)

Long before Santa Fe became the famed capital, the first permanent European foothold in present-day New Mexico was established at San Juan de los Caballeros in 1598.

The Founding

• Leader: Don Juan de Oñate, leading a colonizing expedition of 400+ settlers, soldiers, and Franciscan friars.
• Location: At the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Chama River, on the lands of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo (formerly San Juan Pueblo), about 25 miles north of modern Santa Fe.
• Significance: Served as the capital of the Spanish province of Nuevo México for 12 years (1598–1610).

Context & Legacy

Oñate’s expedition marked the beginning of continuous Spanish settlement in the region. The site was chosen for its water, arable land, and strategic position along the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior). In 1610, Governor Pedro de Peralta moved the capital to the newly founded Santa Fe, citing better defense and water supply.

Today, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo remains a living community. The historic San Juan Bautista Church (rebuilt) and archaeological remnants mark the settlement site. The Camino Real is a National Historic Trail.