Acoma or A'ku (Sky City) as it is also known sits atop a 600-foot-high rock like a medieval fortress mid-way between Gallup and Albuquerque in New Mexico. It shares along with the Hopi town of Oraibi the distinction of being the oldest inhabited settlement in the United States. It was already well established when the Spanish Coronado expedition became the first Europeans to 'visit' it in 1540.
However when Spain established its first permanent colony in New Mexico 1598 Governor Juan de Onate set about bringing the Pueblo's under Spanish and Catholic jurisdiction. Although Onate secured a pledge of submission from Acoma without bloodshed, a month later his nephew Juan de Zaldivar was less diplomatic and less fortunate (althought it was the Indians who would ultimately pay the price for his mens conduct).
Demanding food for troops, he was told it would take the people of Acoma 3 days to grind the corn he required. Growing impatient he and 16 of his men forced their way into Acoma on the third day. When they were directed to the houses where their corn had been prepared, a Spaniard stole a turkey from an old woman, brushing her roughly aside. In the ensuing melee 13 Spaniard's died.
When Onate learned what had happened he sent Juan's brother, Vincente to lead 70 men in a 'just' war against Acoma. Having shattered the pueblo's houses with cannon fire they stormed its defences. The fierce house to house fighting that followed lasted for 3 days.
Over 800 of Acoma's 6,000 inhabitants were killed and 500 women and children and 80 men captured. The women and children were sentenced to 20 years as indentured servants. The men were public mutilated to set an example to the other pueblo's, each having one foot cut off. Two Hopi men who happened to be visiting Acoma at the time each had a hand hacked off to show what would happen to their people if they dared to resist the Spanish.