Biography of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas Location of birth: Bartolomé de las Casas was born in 1484 in Seville (Spain). Location of death: Bartolomé de las Casas died in 18th July 1566 in Madrid (Spain). Positions held: - Ordained priest in 1506. - Bishop of Chiapas (Nueva España) from March 30th,1544 to August 1550. - Protector of
History of America
The Burgos Laws of 1512
As I already mentioned in the entry on the Request in the Spanish crown, serious concerns had arisen about the ill-treatment of some encomenderos against the Indians. These facts would delegitimize the conquest and colonization of the new lands, since this legitimation was based on the papal bulls of
The Residencia Trials, the power against the power
A legal institution that played a major role in the political management and real control over the officials who performed their functions in the New World was the Residencia Trial. This was a judicial procedure by which officials of a certain rank (Virreyes, Presidents of Real Audiencia, mayors and bailiffs)
Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, the head of the New World in Castile
Born: 1451 in Toro - Zamora (Spain) Death: 1524 in Burgos (Spain) Burial: Santa María la Mayor Church in Coca - Segovia (Spain) Charges: - Politics: Diplomat and advisor of the Catholic Monarchs, from 1493 onwards, he will manage the entire colonization process of the New World. - Religion: royal chaplain, archdeacon, canon and dean
Biography of Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Born: Vasco Núñez de Balboa was born in Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz-Spain) in 1475 Death: Vasco Núñez de Balboa died on 15 January 1519 in Acla (Panama) beheaded accused of rebellion against the king. Charges: - Mayor of Santa María la Antigua del Darién in 1510. - Governor of Darien
Juan de la Cosa, first cartographer of America
Born: 1450-1460 in Santoña, Cantabria - Spain. Death: 28 February 1510 in Turbaco ( present Colombia). Burial: Unknown. He died when he was wounded by poisoned arrows fired by the natives of this Colombian area. Charges: - Spanish navigator, cartographer and adventurer. - Spy for the Spanish crown in Portugal. - Appointed Mayor Marshal of Urabá but
First reconnaissance and rescue expedition of Alonso de Ojeda
On May 18,1499 the first discovering ships not commanded by Christopher Columbus departed from the Port of Santa María in Cadiz. This expedition, which marked the end of Columbus' exclusivity to organize voyages of exploration, was promoted by Rodriguez de Fonseca to verify the veracity of what Columbus announced in
More voyages of discovery… Andalusian journeys
In addition to that first voyage of Alonso de Ojeda and Juan de la Cosa in 1499, several expeditions, called minor or Andalusian journeys, promoted by the crown but financed by private capital whose objective was to recognize and to trade in the coasts travelled by Columbus in his third
Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean
We are in the month of September 1513. Vasco Núñez de Balboa and 190 Spaniards depart from Darién direction to Careta, Caribbean region whose chieftain was an ally of the Spaniards and where a thousand more natives joined. From here, they entered the thick and green jungle in search of