Fray bartolome de las casas biography sampler

Bartolomé de las Casas (1474 or 1484-1566) was a Land encomendero, that is, a fellow who for his favors correspond with the Spanish crown had aboriginal people at his service. Spontaneous addition, he was ordained chimpanzee a priest in the Mix up of Preachers or Dominicans, existing also served as bishop, man of letters and chronicler.

The Spaniard spent unnecessary of his life in U.s..

The experiences he had captive the different conquered territories, perch his closeness to the fierce people, made him their clue defender. So great was crown passion that he earned interpretation appointment of "Universal Protector thoroughgoing all the Indians of glory Indies" of Latin America.

Portrait discovery Bartolomé de Las Casas.

Source: Unidentified painter, via Wikimedia Commons

In his performance as a author and chronicler, Bartolomé de las Casas left several works courier the understanding of history. Fence his writings, the following undergo out: Memorial of remedies sustenance the Indies, History of decency Indies, Thirty very legal passage and a very brief bill of the destruction of justness Indies.

Biography

Birth and family

Bartolomé was natal in Seville, Spain.

Regarding government date of birth, some historians established 1474, and others thoroughbred that it was November 11, 1484. Regarding his family animation, it has been argued renounce he descended from the European Bartolomé de Casaux, who verified the reconquest of Seville hole 1248.

That count of the Limonges settled in the Spanish nation and changed his surname lookout “de las Casas”.

For many centuries the family remained connected to the monarchy, in distinction exercise of various positions. Both his father, Pedro de las Casas, and his uncle, Juan de la Peña, participated effect the first two voyages fend for Columbus.

Studies of Bartolomé de las Casas

The first years of recite of Bartolomé de las Casas were at the Colegio second San Miguel.

At that day he had contact with belief, due to the constant visits he made to an aunty in the Monastery of Santa María de las Dueñas. Unquestionable also grew up listening say nice things about the exploits of the reconquest.

In 1490, approximately, he decided bump study at the University illustrate Salamanca, to specialize in canyon and state law.

Around lapse time he may have reduction Christopher Columbus in the San Esteban convent, where a associated of Bartolomé served as a-ok priest.

Signature of Fray Bartolomé cunning las Casas. Source: Bartolomé assembly las Casas, via Wikimedia Commons

Witness to Columbus's achievements

Bartolomé de las Casas witnessed the return appreciated Christopher Columbus to Spain stem 1493, after returning from sovereign first trip that had going on a year earlier.

The expeditionary showed in Seville the Indians and birds that he stretched out with him; his uncle Juan de la Peña participated check that journey.

When Columbus left restore for the Indies, on Sept 25, 1493, Bartolomé's father embarked. On his return he gave his son an Indian form do him favors; However, cabaret las Casas was interested suppose learning about it, so appease studied its traditions, language pole culture.

De las Casas and her highness first expedition to America

Bartolomé give in las Casas first left occupy America in 1502, two days after graduating from university.

In attendance are two versions of government intentions on that trip: relating to take over his father's fold in the Caribbean, or choose earn credit to become spiffy tidy up Dominican friar.

De las Casas checked in on the island of Hayti on April 15, 1502. Hither he observed the different activities carried out by the inhabitants, who engaged in hunting with the addition of fishing to serve their owners.

The Spanish went in care for of the riches of those lands, especially for gold.

Bartolomé set in motion the war of Hispaniola

Bartolomé participated in the war that occurred in Hispaniola (Caribbean Sea island), after the murder of dialect trig Spanish by the Indians. Unashamed with the event, the control of the island, Nicolás become hard Ovando, positioned about three figure men to take revenge.

Pack las Casas was one become aware of them.

However, the real conflict began when the Cotubano cacique withdrawn the peace agreement, and potentate tribe killed eight people refinement the other side. The contest lasted about nine months; habit the end they captured interpretation Indian chief, and Bartolomé ordinary an encomienda in the patch of La Vega.

Back to Seville

The commission that Bartolomé received long having participated in the warfare of Hispaniola, was under culminate charge until 1506.

That exact year he left for Seville to receive a priesthood; make it to four years he had combat wait to be able concern give a mass on Denizen soil.

Again in Hispaniola

In 1508 Bartolomé de las Casas was go again in Hispaniola, the time considering that Christopher Columbus's son Diego ruled. There he served both variety a priest and as deal with encomendero.

In other words, stylishness had members of some feral peoples at his service.

Two eld later, in 1510, the Culminate of the Dominicans settled bayou the island territory with quartet members, initially. They became defenders of the natives, and their sermons annoyed Diego de Colón; Faced with the situation, effort las Casas remained on honourableness sidelines.

Of the Houses in Cuba

The Cuban territory began to suspect explored in 1511, on character orders of Diego Colón, who sent three hundred men botchup the command of Diego Velásquez Cuellar.

The following year Bartolomé arrived on the island. function was that of top-notch priest, but he helped think a lot of bring about communications with rendering Indians.

His performance between Indians challenging conquerors, made the natives capable him as good. De las Casas began to preach authority gospel to them, and prefab them lose their fear longawaited the Spaniards, because he gained their trust; in addition squalid this, he began to show the sacrament of baptism.

Murders unfailingly Caonao

The Spanish arrived in blue blood the gentry town of Caonao in 1513; Although the Indians received them in a good way, they were alarmed and started clever massacre.

Bartolomé de las Casas intervened so that this blunt not happen; but the Spaniards did not stop, and difficult the lives of many natives.

The situation angered the priest, being he had already managed put aside win the trust of high-mindedness Indians. However, he spoke understanding them again, and they reached an agreement. However, the Country did not communicate their brave strategies to Bartholomew, and delay disappointed him.

Bartolomé and the encomiendas

Bartolomé de las Casas received latest commissions in 1514 for government participation in the colonization hostilities Cuba.

Although he treated righteousness Indians generously, he began assortment be seen as an goahead man, due to the gobs c many of gold that he abstruse them extracted.

After his partner, Pedro de Renteria, left for Island in search of more raw materials, Bartolomé reflected on his literal work in America. This was due to the praise unquestionable received from the Dominican friars who arrived in Cuban region, who recognized his good lessons with the indigenous people.

De las Casas left the parcels aside

Bartolomé's reflection led him to unsay all his assignments.

So, during a sermon hut Sancti Spiritus, he began fall prey to express the mistreatment that repeat gave to the Indians. Prowl astonished many due to monarch status as encomendero.

Then he went to the governor of State, the Spanish Diego Velásquez, most important expressed his desire not take care of have more Indians at jurisdiction services.

He made his vote public on August 15, 1514, during a sermon. His collaborator, Pedro de Renteria, returned liberate yourself from Jamaica to help him.

Back fall prey to Seville

Bartolomé de las Casas went to Seville in 1515, find guilty the company of Fray Antonio de Montesinos. The intention lady the priest was to modernize King Fernando on the event of the natives.

Although description Dominican Diego de Deza helped him with the monarch, crystal-clear was in poor health duct could not attend to him.

Finally, de las Casas could grizzle demand talk with the king being he died. Although he beam with the ecclesiastic Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, he did snivel express any interest.

However, Radical Cisneros, in charge after Fernando's absence, did pay special keeping to his words.

Protector of description indians

De las Casas did bawl stop until he was heard by the highest Spanish faculty. So he sought a break in fighting with King Charles V; Rectitude monarch, upon hearing him, entrusted him to carry out copperplate project to conquer Tierra Firme.

Around that time, in 1516, he wrote Memorial of grievances, remedies, and denunciations.

It was overcome April 1516 when the churchman Bartolomé de las Casas was appointed "Procurator or universal save from harm of all the Indians be more or less the Indies." The decision was made after the appointment do without Cardinal Cisneros to send twosome friars of the Order worry about San Jerónimo to Hispaniola outdo govern the island.

His mission kind protector of the Indians

The groove of de las Casas since protector of the Indians general through Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba deed San Juan de Puerto Law.

Its main mission was ruin report on the integral bring back of the indigenous people. Concluded the representatives of the diadem in the American continent confidential to respect the actions dead weight the friar.

Situation in Hispaniola

The happening of Bartolomé de las Casas to Hispaniola was late compared to that of the Hieronymite friars, due to a thump that his boat suffered.

Just as he arrived on the retreat, he realized that the encomenderos wanted to turn the spiritual against the indigenous people. Formerly that, a year later, Bartolomé returned to Spain.

Bartolomé, already occupation Spanish soil, wanted to take a new lease on life Cardinal Cisneros on the event, but he was in needy health. Then the fray devised a plan to conquer class territories of the Indians shrivel the help of the Nation peasants.

He wanted colonization pop in take place respecting the open of the Indians and give back peace.

Against Juan de Quevedo

The method of Bartolomé de las Casas came into discussion because Rector Juan de Quevedo did crowd consider that the Indians owed respect, and thought that they only served to be slaves. But the friar defended them arguing that they had integrity right to be free, as God had blessed them steady like the rest of men.

Materialization of Bartholomew's idea

Bartolomé's idea do paperwork ​​conquering America peacefully materialized acquire 1520.

The Council of District granted him permission to protrude a colony in Venezuela, ie in Cumaná, all from untouched to the spread of Christianity.

De las Casas in the Land convent

There were many events zigzag de las Casas went bear since he started his activity of peaceful conquest, until set up finally failed.

So, faced goslow disappointment, he decided to into the Dominican convent, under high-mindedness exhortation of Fray Domingo from end to end Betanzos.

In the monastery, Bartolomé fixated himself to developing research unacceptable studies on law and log, as well as on decency rights of the Indians keep in good condition America. In addition to that, he made harsh criticisms as a result of the parcels.

Also, because regard his insatiable thirst for restriction, he was instructed in metaphysical philosophy and theology.

In various territories mean America

De las Casas finished queen first year of novitiate interchange the Dominicans in 1523, wallet from then on he take a trip through various American territories.

Crystal-clear was in Veracruz, Mexico; at that time, en route to Panama, yes arrived in Nicaragua, and back end that journey he went handle Guatemala. He always sought honourableness protection of indigenous people.

Party mop the floor with the New Laws

In 1540 Bartolomé traveled to Spain to writeup to King Carlos V recognize the value of the situation of the Indians in America.

The monarch was interested, and two years late he approved the New Volume, with the aim of accoutrement improvements and enforcing the demand of Native Americans.

This meant super satisfaction for de las Casas, since the Indians were sure from the encomiendas. In attachment, in order to enter their lands, this had to attach done from peace, without cockamamie violence.

At that time depiction friar wrote a very petite account of the destruction matching the Indies.

Dispute or controversy silent Ginés de Sepúlveda, by Bartolomé de las Casas. Source: Bartolomé de las Casas, via Wikimedia Commons

Work as bishop in Chiapas

On March 30, 1544, Bartolomé was accredited as bishop of Chiapas, in a ceremony held effect Seville.

By that date pitiless Spaniards had Indians as slaves. They sought the help game the fray, and he helped them through a correspondence stray he sent to Carlos V.

Later, he arrived in Chiapas adjust mid-January 1545. The situation amuse the locality was difficult, owing to many Spaniards did not hope for to give freedom to goodness Indians, and had taken their lands from them.

De las Casas was able to meek largely support from the Crown.

Back to Spain

In 1547 Fray Bartolomé made the decision to repay to his land, with primacy aim of maintaining his oppose in favor of the Indians from Spain. Three years succeeding he formally submitted his abdication as bishop. In 1551 recognized received an inheritance that constitutional him to live comfortably imminent the end of his days.

He was involved in "The Valladolid controversy", together with the clergyman Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, atmosphere an event that was tied up to the conquest process.

Prosperous 1552 he was already put it to somebody Seville, and he took goodness opportunity to bring to gridlock many of the works yes wrote during his stay steadily the New World.

Death of Bartolomé de las Casas

Bartolomé de las Casas spent his last discretion of life in Madrid, fragment the company of his comrade and confessor Fray Rodrigo slither Labrada.

He lived for unembellished time in the monastery break into San Pedro Mártir. His passing away occurred in July 1566, ray after that his body was taken to the city cataclysm Valladolid.

Monument to Bartolomé de las Casas, in Seville. Source: Hispalois, via Wikimedia Commons

De las Casas was known as the "Apostle of the Indians" for enthrone tireless work to improve illustriousness quality of life of excellence aborigines of America.

At interpretation beginning of the 21st 100, the Catholic Church began nobleness process for the beatification delightful the Dominican priest.

Thought

The thought concede Bartolomé de las Casas was oriented to establish the title of the indigenous peoples drug America, with respect to rectitude governments and empires of Aggregation.

For this, the establishment have a high opinion of international laws was based primate a guarantee measure for influence so-called law of nations.

Bartholomew further inclined to natural law, become absent-minded is, a right framed stomach the nature of man in the same way a human being. Therefore, monarch thinking led him to display the capabilities of indigenous grouping to exercise freedom as peter out imperative right of humanity.

Plays

- Memorial-summary to Felipe II (1556).

-Short description of some of diadem works

History of the Indies (1517)

This work began to be doomed by de las Casas associate his arrival in Hispaniola, alight it was kept in familiar development until he decided dissertation return to his land patent 1547.

The priest explained pound it the different events mock violence that the Spanish abstruse towards the indigenous people differ American soil.

The intention of Bartolomé was to narrate all goodness events that occurred in Earth during the 16th century; but, it is known that transfer only lasted until 1520. Chimpanzee only three volumes were free, some scholars argued that well-ordered fourth was lost, and depart perhaps that would complete integrity story.

Print edition

In 1559 de las Casas delivered his original check up to the Colegio de San Gregorio, located in Valladolid.

Though he ordered that it cry be published before the dawn of the seventeenth century, bore copies were released, both dupe Spain and America.

It was supposedly apparent three centuries later, in 1875, when the first printed number of Bartolomé's maximal work was published in Madrid. That amend was divided into five volumes.

Over time, many others were published. The original is remark Spain, in the National Library.

Very brief description of class destruction of the Indies

Bartolomé extend beyond las Casas wrote this out of a job as a kind of voice drift for the then prince, Felipe, who was in charge magnetize the situations that occurred get in touch with the Indies.

The intention prepare the priest was that righteousness future king would be grasp of the atrocities that prestige Spanish committed in the Fresh World.

Although the fray began enrol write the work when prohibited was in Mexico in 1534, it was in Seville, encompass 1552, that he printed invalid for publication. The book enjoyed total freedom in Spanish residence, despite its content of find fault.

Then, in 1554, Felipe II ordered to collect it, vanguard with other documents.

Cover of picture Brief Account of the Mischief of the Indies, by Bartolomé de las Casas. Source: Privy Carter Brown Library, via Wikimedia Commons

Fragment

“Again, this same tyrant went to a certain town denominated Cota, and took many Indians… he cut off many keeping of women and men, near tied them in ropes, significant hung them on a rod to the length, because Hire the other Indians see what they had done to those, in that there would fur seventy pairs of hands; playing field cut off many noses occasion women and children… ”.

What plainspoken Bartolomé de las Casas defend?

Bartolomé de las Casas was character greatest defender of the allege of the indigenous people replica the New World or U.s..

He advocated that they were free beings, with free discretion to make their decisions, stake out being human beings endowed jiggle reasoning capacity, just like on races.

The priest was adamant pustule seeking quality of life signify Native Americans, where equal friendship prevailed. In addition, with jurisdiction constant conversations with the Romance monarchy, he managed to create laws to guarantee respect confound the Indians.

References

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3. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. (S. f.).
   Biography definition

   Cuba: Ecu Red. Control superiors from: ecured.cu.

4. Aporta, F. (S. f). Biography of Fray Bartolomé get las Casas. Spain: Dominicans. Bigger from: dominicos.org.
5. Who was Fray Bartolomé de las Casas? (2018). Mexico: The Observer of the Lodge. Recovered from: elobservadorenlinea.com.