FRAY BARTOLOMÉ DE LAS CASAS: BIOGRAPHY, THOUGHT, WORKS - ARTE - 2025

Bartolomé de las Casas (1474 or 1484-1566) was a Spanish encomendero, that is, a man who for his favors to the Spanish crown had indigenous people at his service. In addition, he was ordained as a priest in the Order of Preachers or Dominicans, and also served as bishop, writer and chronicler.

The Spaniard spent much of his life in America. The experiences he had in the different conquered territories, and his closeness to the indigenous people, made him their main defender. So great was his passion that he earned the appointment of "Universal Protector of all the Indians of the Indies" of Latin America.

Portrait of Bartolomé de Las Casas. Source: Unidentified painter, via Wikimedia Commons

In his performance as a writer and chronicler, Bartolomé de las Casas left several works for the understanding of history. Of his writings, the following stand out: Memorial of remedies for the Indies, History of the Indies, Thirty very legal propositions and a very brief account of the destruction of the Indies.

Biography

Birth and family

Bartolomé was born in Seville, Spain. Regarding his date of birth, some historians established 1474, and others affirmed that it was November 11, 1484. Regarding his family life, it has been argued that he descended from the Frenchman Bartolomé de Casaux, who supported the reconquest of Seville in 1248.

That count of the Limonges settled in the Spanish city and changed his surname to “de las Casas”. For several centuries the family remained linked to the monarchy, in the exercise of various positions. Both his father, Pedro de las Casas, and his uncle, Juan de la Peña, participated in the first two voyages of Columbus.

Studies of Bartolomé de las Casas

The first years of study of Bartolomé de las Casas were at the Colegio de San Miguel. At that time he had contact with religion, due to the constant visits he made to an aunt in the Monastery of Santa María de las Dueñas. He also grew up listening to the exploits of the reconquest.

In 1490, approximately, he decided to study at the University of Salamanca, to specialize in canon and state law. Around that time he may have met Christopher Columbus in the San Esteban convent, where a relative of Bartolomé served as a priest.

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

Witness to Columbus's achievements

Bartolomé de las Casas witnessed the return of Christopher Columbus to Spain in 1493, after returning from his first trip that had begun a year earlier. The expeditionary showed in Seville the Indians and birds that he brought with him; his uncle Juan de la Peña participated in that journey.

When Columbus left again for the Indies, on September 25, 1493, Bartolomé's father embarked. On his return he gave his son an Indian to do him favors; However, de las Casas was interested in learning about it, so he studied its traditions, language and culture.

De las Casas and his first expedition to America

Bartolomé de las Casas first left for America in 1502, two years after graduating from university. There are two versions of his intentions on that trip: to take over his father's business in the Caribbean, or to earn credit to become a Dominican friar.

De las Casas arrived on the island of Hispaniola on April 15, 1502. There he observed the different activities carried out by the natives, who engaged in hunting and fishing to serve their owners. The Spanish went in search of the riches of those lands, especially for gold.

Bartolomé in the war of Hispaniola

Bartolomé participated in the war that occurred in Hispaniola (Caribbean Sea island), after the murder of a Spanish by the Indians. Faced with the event, the governor of the island, Nicolás de Ovando, positioned about three hundred men to take revenge. De las Casas was one of them.

However, the real conflict began when the Cotubano cacique ended the peace agreement, and his tribe killed eight people on the other side. The war lasted about nine months; at the end they captured the Indian chief, and Bartolomé received an encomienda in the province of La Vega.

Back to Seville

The commission that Bartolomé received for having participated in the war of Hispaniola, was under his charge until 1506. That same year he left for Seville to receive a priesthood; for four years he had to wait to be able to give a mass on American soil.

Again in Hispaniola

In 1508 Bartolomé de las Casas was back in Hispaniola, the time when Christopher Columbus's son Diego ruled. There he served both as a priest and as an encomendero. In other words, he had members of some indigenous peoples at his service.

Two years later, in 1510, the Order of the Dominicans settled in the island territory with four members, initially. They became defenders of the natives, and their sermons annoyed Diego de Colón; Faced with the situation, de las Casas remained on the sidelines.

Of the Houses in Cuba

The Cuban territory began to be explored in 1511, on the orders of Diego Colón, who sent three hundred men under the command of Diego Velásquez Cuellar. The following year Bartolomé arrived on the island. His function was that of a priest, but he helped to bring about communications with the Indians.

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

Murders in Caonao

The Spanish arrived in the town of Caonao in 1513; Although the Indians received them in a good way, they were alarmed and started a massacre. Bartolomé de las Casas intervened so that this did not happen; but the Spaniards did not stop, and ended the lives of many natives.

The situation angered the priest, because he had already managed to win the trust of the Indians. However, he spoke to them again, and they reached an agreement. However, the Spanish did not communicate their military strategies to Bartholomew, and that disappointed him.

Bartolomé and the encomiendas

Bartolomé de las Casas received new commissions in 1514 for his participation in the colonization of Cuba. Although he treated the Indians generously, he began to be seen as an ambitious man, due to the quantities of gold that he had them extracted.

After his partner, Pedro de Renteria, left for Jamaica in search of more riches, Bartolomé reflected on his true work in America. This was due to the praise he received from the Dominican friars who arrived in Cuban territory, who recognized his good work with the indigenous people.

De las Casas left the parcels aside

Bartolomé's reflection led him to renounce all his assignments. So, during a sermon in Sancti Spiritus, he began to express the mistreatment that many gave to the Indians. That astonished many due to his status as encomendero.

Then he went to the governor of Cuba, the Spanish Diego Velásquez, and expressed his desire not to have more Indians at his services. He made his decision public on August 15, 1514, during a sermon. His associate, Pedro de Renteria, returned from Jamaica to help him.

Back to Seville

Bartolomé de las Casas went to Seville in 1515, in the company of Fray Antonio de Montesinos. The intention of the priest was to update King Fernando on the situation of the natives. Although the Dominican Diego de Deza helped him with the monarch, he was in poor health and could not attend to him.

Finally, de las Casas could not talk with the king because he died. Although he spoke with the ecclesiastic Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, he did not express any interest. However, Cardinal Cisneros, in charge after Fernando's absence, did pay special attention to his words.

Protector of the indians

De las Casas did not stop until he was heard by the highest Spanish authority. So he sought a meeting with King Charles V; The monarch, upon hearing him, entrusted him to carry out a project to conquer Tierra Firme. Around that time, in 1516, he wrote Memorial of grievances, remedies, and denunciations.

It was in April 1516 when the priest Bartolomé de las Casas was appointed "Procurator or universal protector of all the Indians of the Indies." The decision was made after the appointment by Cardinal Cisneros to send three friars of the Order of San Jerónimo to Hispaniola to govern the island.

His mission as protector of the Indians

The work of de las Casas as protector of the Indians spread through Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba and San Juan de Puerto Rico. Its main mission was to report on the integral state of the indigenous people. All the representatives of the crown in the American continent had to respect the actions of the friar.

Situation in Hispaniola

The arrival of Bartolomé de las Casas to Hispaniola was late compared to that of the Hieronymite friars, due to a failure that his boat suffered. When he arrived on the island, he realized that the encomenderos wanted to turn the religious against the indigenous people. Before that, a year later, Bartolomé returned to Spain.

Bartolomé, already on Spanish soil, wanted to update Cardinal Cisneros on the situation, but he was in poor health. Then the fray devised a plan to conquer the territories of the Indians with the help of the Spanish peasants. He wanted colonization to take place respecting the rights of the Indians and in peace.

Against Juan de Quevedo

The plan of Bartolomé de las Casas came into discussion because Bishop Juan de Quevedo did not consider that the Indians deserved respect, and thought that they only served to be slaves. But the friar defended them arguing that they had the right to be free, because God had blessed them just like the rest of men.

Materialization of Bartholomew's idea

Bartolomé's idea of ​​conquering America peacefully materialized in 1520. The Council of Castile granted him permission to create a colony in Venezuela, specifically in Cumaná, all from peace to the spread of Christianity.

De las Casas in the Dominican convent

There were many events that de las Casas went through since he started his project of peaceful conquest, until it finally failed. So, faced with disappointment, he decided to enter the Dominican convent, under the exhortation of Fray Domingo de Betanzos.

In the monastery, Bartolomé dedicated himself to developing research and studies on law and laws, as well as on the rights of the Indians of America. In addition to this, he made harsh criticisms of the parcels. Also, because of his insatiable thirst for learning, he was instructed in philosophy and theology.

In various territories of America

De las Casas finished his first year of novitiate with the Dominicans in 1523, and from then on he traveled through various American territories. He was in Veracruz, Mexico; then, en route to Panama, he arrived in Nicaragua, and after that journey he went to Guatemala. He always sought the protection of indigenous people.

Party in the New Laws

In 1540 Bartolomé traveled to Spain to report to King Carlos V about the situation of the Indians in America. The monarch was interested, and two years later he approved the New Laws, with the aim of providing improvements and enforcing the rights of Native Americans.

This meant great satisfaction for de las Casas, since the Indians were freed from the encomiendas. In addition, in order to enter their lands, this had to be done from peace, without any violence. At that time the friar wrote a very brief account of the destruction of the Indies.

Dispute or controversy with 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 in Seville. By that date some Spaniards had Indians as slaves. They sought the help of the fray, and he helped them through a correspondence that he sent to Carlos V.

Later, he arrived in Chiapas in mid-January 1545. The situation in the locality was difficult, since many Spaniards did not want to give freedom to the Indians, and had taken their lands from them. De las Casas was able to gain largely support from the Crown.

Back to Spain

In 1547 Fray Bartolomé made the decision to return to his land, with the aim of maintaining his fight in favor of the Indians from Spain. Three years later he formally submitted his resignation as bishop. In 1551 he received an inheritance that allowed him to live comfortably until the end of his days.

He was involved in "The Valladolid controversy", together with the priest Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda, in an event that was related to the conquest process. In 1552 he was already in Seville, and he took the opportunity to bring to light many of the works he wrote during his stay in the New World.

Death of Bartolomé de las Casas

Bartolomé de las Casas spent his last years of life in Madrid, in the company of his friend and confessor Fray Rodrigo de Labrada. He lived for a time in the monastery of San Pedro Mártir. His death occurred in July 1566, and after that his body was taken to the city of 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 his tireless work to improve the quality of life of the aborigines of America. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Catholic Church began the process for the beatification of the Dominican priest.

Thought

The thought of Bartolomé de las Casas was oriented to establish the rights of the indigenous peoples of America, with respect to the governments and empires of Europe. For this, the establishment of international laws was based as a guarantee measure for the so-called law of nations.

Bartholomew also inclined to natural law, that is, a right framed within the nature of man as a human being. Therefore, his thinking led him to expose the capabilities of indigenous people to exercise freedom as an imperative right of humanity.

Plays

- Memorial-summary to Felipe II (1556).

-Short description of some of his works

History of the Indies (1517)

This work began to be written by de las Casas after his arrival in Hispaniola, and it was kept in constant development until he decided to return to his land in 1547. The priest explained in it the different events of violence that the Spanish had towards the indigenous people from American soil.

The intention of Bartolomé was to narrate all the events that occurred in America during the 16th century; however, it is known that it only lasted until 1520. As only three volumes were released, some scholars argued that a fourth was lost, and that perhaps that would complete the story.

Print edition

In 1559 de las Casas delivered his original work to the Colegio de San Gregorio, located in Valladolid. Although he ordered that it not be published before the beginning of the seventeenth century, some copies were released, both in Spain and America.

It was almost three centuries later, in 1875, when the first printed edition of Bartolomé's maximal work was published in Madrid. That publication was divided into five volumes. Over time, many others were published. The original is in Spain, in the National Library.

Very brief description of the destruction of the Indies

Bartolomé de las Casas wrote this work as a kind of report for the then prince, Felipe, who was in charge of the situations that occurred in the Indies. The intention of the priest was that the future king would be aware of the atrocities that the Spanish committed in the New World.

Although the fray began to write the work when he was in Mexico in 1534, it was in Seville, in 1552, that he printed it for publication. The book enjoyed total freedom in Spanish territory, despite its content of complaint. Then, in 1554, Felipe II ordered to collect it, along with other documents.

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

Fragment

“Again, this same tyrant went to a certain town called Cota, and took many Indians… he cut off many hands of women and men, and tied them in ropes, and hung them on a pole to the length, because Let the other Indians see what they had done to those, in that there would be seventy pairs of hands; and cut off many noses to women and children… ”.

What did Bartolomé de las Casas defend?

Bartolomé de las Casas was the greatest defender of the rights of the indigenous people of the New World or America. He advocated that they were free beings, with free will to make their decisions, for being human beings endowed with reasoning capacity, just like other races.

The priest was adamant in seeking quality of life for Native Americans, where equal conditions prevailed. In addition, with his constant conversations with the Spanish monarchy, he managed to establish laws to guarantee respect for the Indians.

References

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2. Tamaro, E. (2004-2019). Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
3. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. (S. f.). Cuba: Ecu Red. Recovered from: ecured.cu.
4. Aporta, F. (S. f). Biography of Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. Spain: Dominicans. Recovered from: dominicos.org.
5. Who was Fray Bartolomé de las Casas? (2018). Mexico: The Observer of the Present. Recovered from: elobservadorenlinea.com.