Gov. Pedro de Peralta chose the site for Santa Fe to avoid conflict and ease tensions with the natives of the territory. Peralta would have been better served to keep his distance from the Catholic Church.

In 1612, just two years after the founding of Santa Fe, Friar Isidro Ordoñez came to Santa Fe with the strict intentions of assuming control of the church and by extension, the region. Holding the proper paper and charge, Ordoñez would step in as commissary in charge of the New Mexican missions. Ordoñez's ambition and belief in the stern administration of Catholicism coupled with his role as administrator of the Inquisition, made him unpopular with the other friars. And even though the other friars distrusted Ordoñez, he assumed control over the New Mexican mission system.

For Ordoñez, though, control over the missions was not enough. He desired rule over all of the territory. He and Peralta soon butted heads. At first, the two disagreed over the rights of Native laborers employed by the church. But soon the tension between Ordoñez and Peralta escalated over a detachment of soldiers whom Ordoñez met along the trail to Taos. He ordered the men back to Santa Fe to observe Mass, and in so doing, he contradicted Peralta's will and order. Peralta told the soldiers to return.

This willful contradiction perturbed Ordoñez, who sought to punish Peralta through excommunication. To absolve himself, Peralta would have to appear at Mass barefoot and swear loyalty to the church. The church even insisted that if Peralta did not follow its requests, that no one else should even speak to the governor.

The church even went so far as to demand that the royal notary end his service to the governor. As a result of the notary's compliance to the will of the church, Peralta became angry with the notary. Ordoñez sent a representative to plea for the notary's life. Peralta calmed and released the notary, striking a tenuous peace with Ordoñez.

The compromise was not to last. Soon after, Peralta got word that Ordoñez meant to arrest him. Enraged, Peralta marched to Ordoñez's residence and commanded Ordoñez to leave Santa Fe. The two soon exchanged angry words and Peralta brandished a pistol. He actually fired toward Ordoñez, but missed the friar. During the shooting, only one member of the church received a minor wound.

Probably unwilling to do any more damage, Peralta abandoned the effort and soon the capital. He decided to take his grievances to the Spanish authorities in Mexico City. Along the way, Peralta's caravan was intercepted by soldiers and Peralta himself taken prisoner at the Sandia mission.

Unbeknownst to Peralta, Ordoñez had ordered the arrest to keep Peralta from reaching Mexico City. While Peralta endured in prison, Ordoñez exerted his authority over New Mexico. His will became law over both church and state. Peralta managed to escape after eight months of detention only to be recaptured and dragged back to prison in front of numerous natives as an example of punishment for bad behavior.

After a year of imprisonment, Peralta received word that Bernardino de Ceballos would relieve him as governor. But Ceballos soon fell in league with Ordoñez, and Peralta received no reprieve. Ordoñez even went so far as to appear at a court called to review Peralta's role as governor. He intimidated witnesses and made sure there would be no leniency for Peralta. For all intents and purposes, Ordoñez ruled over New Mexico and its small Spanish populations.

Eventually, Peralta exacted some measure of revenge against Ordoñez. After a treacherous journey south during which he was robbed by Ordoñez's men, Peralta reached Mexico City and leveled charges against Ordoñez. After lengthy proceedings, the Spanish authorities punished Ordoñez for his behavior. But the church had already risen to a height of power in the territory.

Jason Stykowski is doctoral candidate at The University of New Mexico.