Juan de Samaniego y Xaca

Juan de Samaniego y Díez de Ulzurrun Xaca y Roncal was born in Estella, Navarra (Spain). He was a son of Lorenzo de Samaniego y Jaca and Catalina Díez de Ulzurrun y Roncal. Eventually, Juan de Samaniego earned the title of nobleman after verifying the notability of his four grandparents (his paternal grandparents were Martín de Samaniego and Inés de Jaca, while his maternal grandparents were Martín Díez de Ulzurrun y Margarita Roncal). So, he joined to the Order of San Juan de Jerusalén in 1637.

He joined the Spanish Army in his youth. There he had a distinguished military career, joining the Knights Hospitaller, a leading religious-military order.

In 1663, Xaca was chosen as governor of Santa Fe de Nuevo México by the Viceroy Francisco Fernández de la Cueva.

During his administration in New Mexico, Franciscans filed 17 charges against Samaniego, and he had troubles with some Amerindian peoples, who attacked and kidnapped people in some places in New Mexico. So, in some time, the Apaches attacked the Jumano village, kidnapping twenty-seven women and local children. To rescue them, Samaniego sent an troop led by Juan Domínguez de Mendoza to the Apache village. The expedition was successful and the Apache were punished.[1]

The following year, Navajos raided Jemez Pueblo. The Navajo killed nineteen people and taked another thirty-five. Samaniego sent several troops against them. The Spaniards, led again by Dominguez de Mendoza, entered the Navajo village while they celebrated a ceremonial, and there they abducted 211 people and killed several more. Then, the Spanish militaries freed the people kidnapped by the Navajos.[1][2] This caused Samaniego to be threatened by Friar Antonio de Ibargary since Samaniego had punished Native Americans without consulting the priests.

Later, in 1654, Samaniego organized a travel of exploration to the Nueces River. To this end, he chosen to Diego de Guadalajara Bernardo de Quirós to lead the expedition.

Juan de Samaniego y Jaca was replaced by Juan Manso de Contreras in 1656 in the New Mexico government. Samaniego settled in Parral, Chihuahua (in modern Mexico) where he became in attorney to Valerio Cortés del Rey, his former financial backer during his politic administration in New Mexico.[1]