Bartolomé de las Casas

• 1. The Seville Boy Who Saw Seven Indians

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  Bartolomé de las Casas was born in Seville on the 11th of November 1484. For centuries, scholars believed he arrived a decade earlier than that date. Archival work conducted in the 1970s proved this error by uncovering records from a contemporary lawsuit. His father, Pedro de las Casas, was a merchant who descended from families migrating from France to found Christian Seville. The family name sometimes appeared as Casaus in historical documents.

  His first encounter with Indigenous peoples occurred before he ever sailed to the Americas. In his History of the Indies, Las Casas wrote about Christopher Columbus's return to Seville in 1493. He recorded seeing seven Indians displayed near the Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari alongside beautiful green parrots and Indigenous artifacts. Three years later, in 1502, Las Casas immigrated to Hispaniola with his father on an expedition led by Nicolás de Ovando.

  He became a hacendado and slave owner receiving land in the province of Cibao. He participated in slave raids and military expeditions against the native Taíno population of Hispaniola. In 1506, he returned to Spain to complete studies of canon law at Salamanca. That same year, he was ordained a deacon and traveled to Rome where he was ordained a secular priest in 1507.

• 2. The Sermon That Shook A Conscience

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  In September 1510, a group of Dominican friars arrived in Santo Domingo led by Pedro de Córdoba. They were appalled by injustices committed by slave owners against the Indians and decided to deny slave owners the right to confession. Las Casas was among those denied confession for this reason. In December 1511, a Dominican preacher named Fray Antonio de Montesinos preached a fiery sermon implicating colonists in genocide.

  Montesinos asked: Tell me by what right of justice do you hold these Indians in such cruel servitude? On what authority have you waged such detestable wars against people who dealt quietly on their own lands? Wars in which you destroyed infinite numbers through homicides never heard of before. Why keep them oppressed without food or cure from sickness caused by excessive labor?

  Las Casas initially argued against the Dominicans in favor of the encomienda system. The colonists dispatched a complaint to the King and the Dominicans were recalled from Hispaniola. In 1513, as a chaplain, Las Casas participated in Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar's conquest of Cuba. He witnessed many atrocities committed by Spaniards against native Ciboney and Guanahatabey peoples during campaigns at Bayamo and Camagüey.

• 3. The Pentecost Sermon That Changed Everything

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  In 1514, Las Casas studied Ecclesiasticus chapter 34 verses 18 through 22 for a Pentecost sermon. He pondered its meaning until finally convinced that all Spanish actions in the New World had been illegal. They constituted a great injustice according to his reading. He made up his mind to give up his slaves and encomienda immediately.

  He started preaching that other colonists should do the same when he realized resistance would come. Aided by Pedro de Córdoba and Antonio de Montesinos, he left for Spain in September 1515 arriving in Seville in November. He arrived with plans to convince King Ferdinand to end the encomienda system entirely. This proved difficult since most powerful people profited from wealth flowing from the Indies.

  King Ferdinand lay ill in Plasencia during winter 1515 but Las Casas secured a letter of introduction from Archbishop Diego de Deza. On Christmas Eve of 1515, Las Casas met the monarch discussing conditions in the Indies. The king agreed to hear him out later while waiting. Las Casas produced a report presented to Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca and secretary Lope Conchillos who controlled royal policies regarding the Indies.

• 4. The Peasant Colony That Burned To Ashes

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  Following suggestions from mentor Pedro de Córdoba, Las Casas petitioned for land grants to establish settlements in northern Venezuela at Cumaná. Founded in 1515, small Franciscan and Dominican monasteries already existed there though monks faced harassment from Spanish slave raiders operating from nearby Cubagua island. To make proposals palatable to the king, Las Casas incorporated profit prospects for the royal treasury.

  He suggested fortifying Venezuela's northern coast establishing ten royal forts protecting Indians while starting gold and pearl trade systems. All Indian slaves should live in these towns becoming tribute-paying subjects to the king. Securing the grant required long court fights against Bishop Fonseca and supporters Gonzalo de Oviedo and Bishop Quevedo of Tierra Firme. His supporters included Diego Columbus and new chancellor Gattinara.

  In 1520 his concession finally granted but much smaller than initially proposed. He was denied extracting gold or pearls making investor recruitment difficult. Committing himself producing fifteen thousand ducats annual revenue increasing to sixty thousand after ten years proved impossible. Finding fifty men willing to invest two hundred ducats each plus three years unpaid work failed completely. He left November 1520 with just peasants paying venture costs borrowed from brother-in-law.

• 5. The Colony That Burned And The Friar Who Returned

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  Arriving Puerto Rico January 1521 he received terrible news that Dominican convent Chiribichi had been sacked by Indians. Spaniards launched punitive expedition led by Gonzalo de Ocampo into territory Las Casas wanted colonizing peacefully. Indians provoked attacking settlement because repeated slave raids came from Cubagua island trading slaves for alcohol with natives.

  As Ocampo's ships returned carrying slaves from land Las Casas granted, he went Hispaniola complaining to Audiencia. After months negotiations set sail alone since peasants deserted him arriving colony already ravaged by Spaniards. Working adverse conditions following months constantly harassed Spanish pearl fishers trading slaves for alcohol with natives. Early 1522 Las Casas left settlement complaining authorities while native Caribs attacked Cumaná burning ground killing four of his men.

  He returned Hispaniola January 1522 hearing massacre news including rumors placing him among dead. Detractors used event evidence needing pacification using military means instead. Devastated Las Casas entered Dominican monastery Santa Cruz Santo Domingo as novice 1522 finally taking holy vows Dominican friar 1523. There continued theological studies particularly attracted Thomist philosophy overseeing monastery construction Puerto Plata north coast Hispaniola subsequently serving prior convent.

• 6. The Land Of War That Became True Peace

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  In 1536 Las Casas followed friars Guatemala preparing undertaking mission among Maya Indians staying convent founded years earlier Fray Domingo Betanzos studying K'iche language Bishop Francisco Marroquín before traveling interior region called Tuzulutlan meaning Land of War 1537. Also 1536 before venturing Tuzulutlan Las Casas went Oaxaca Mexico participating series discussions debates among bishops Dominican Franciscan orders two orders approaches conversion Indians very different methods.

  Franciscans used mass conversion sometimes baptizing thousands Indians day method championed prominent Franciscans Toribio Benavente known Motolinia Las Casas made enemies Franciscans arguing conversions without adequate understanding invalid. Wrote treatise De unico vocationis mode On Only Way Conversion based missionary principles used Guatemala. Motolinia later fierce critic accusing all talk no action converting Indians direct result debates Pope Paul III promulgated Bull Sublimis Deus stating Indians rational beings brought peacefully faith such.

  Returned Guatemala 1537 employing new conversion method based two principles preaching Gospel treating equals asserting conversion voluntary knowledge understanding faith important tested without meddling secular colonists chose territory heart Guatemala previous colonies natives considered fierce warlike land impossible conquer military means governor Alonso Maldonado agreed sign contract promising successful venture establish new encomiendas area.

• 7. The Laws That Sparked Riots And Death Threats

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  When hearings started 1542 Las Casas presented narrative atrocities against natives Indies published 1552 Short Account Destruction Indies. Before council consisting Cardinal García Loaysa Count Osorno Bishop Fuenleal members Council Indies argued only solution removing Indians care secular Spaniards abolishing encomienda system putting directly under Crown royal tribute-paying subjects. the 20th of November 1542 emperor signed New Laws abolishing encomiendas removing certain officials Council Indies.

  New Laws made illegal using Indians carriers except where no transport available prohibited taking Indians slaves instated gradual abolition encomienda system each reverting Crown death holders exempted surviving Indians Hispaniola Cuba Puerto Rico Jamaica tribute requirements personal service reforms unpopular New World riots broke threats made Las Casas life Viceroy New Spain decided implement laws domain sent party Spain arguing behalf encomenderos.

  To settle issues formal debate organized famous Valladolid debate taking place 1550-51 Sepúlveda Las Casas presenting arguments front council jurists theologians First Sepúlveda read conclusions Democrates Alter then council listened Las Casas counterarguments form Apología. Sepúlveda argued subjugation certain Indians warranted sins against Natural Law low level civilization required civilized masters maintain social order should made Christian requiring pacified

• 8. The Debate That Left Judges Divided

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  only Spanish defend weak Indians abuses stronger ones.

  Verdict inconclusive debaters claimed won contributed policy war fire blood Third Mexican Provincial Council implemented 1585 Chichimeca War while Lewis Hanke noted Sepúlveda became hero conquistadors success short-lived works never published Spain lifetime during his life. Las Casas ideas lasting impact decisions king Philip II history human rights criticism encomienda system contributed replacement reducciones testimonies peaceful nature Native Americans encouraged nonviolent policies religious conversions New Spain Peru.

  In 1552 Las Casas published Short Account Destruction Indies book written decade earlier sent attention Prince Philip II Spain contained accounts abuses committed Spaniards Native Americans early stages colonization. One stated purposes fear Spain coming divine punishment concern souls native peoples account first attempts Spanish writer colonial era depict unfair treatment indigenous people endured early stages Greater Antilles particularly island Hispaniola.

  Point of view heavily against Spanish methods colonization inflicted great losses indigenous occupants islands critique colonizers served bring awareness audience true meaning Christianity dismantle misconceptions evangelization largely responsible adoption New Laws 1542 abolishing native slavery first time European colonial history led Valladolid debate.

  Book became important element creation propagation Black Legend tradition describing Spanish empire exceptionally

• 9. The Book That Became A Weapon

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  morally corrupt violent republished several times groups critical Spanish realm political religious reasons first edition translation Dutch 1578 religious persecution Dutch Protestants Spanish crown followed editions French 1578 English 1583 German 1599 countries religious wars raging first edition published Spain after death appeared Barcelona Catalan Revolt 1646 banned Aragonese inquisition 1659.