THE ROYAL GRANTS, THE TRIBUTE AND THE PARCELS - HISTORY - 2024

The real mercedes, tribute and parcels were part of the economic system introduced in New Spain after the Spanish Conquest. In 1521 the fall of Tenochtitlan at the hands of Hernán Cortés marked the end of the Aztec Empire. However, outside the Valley of Mexico, the Spanish presence in the old empire was minimal.

Then, they had to lay the foundations for the administration of the newly conquered territory, while extending their control from the old capital. In this context, the system of royal grants, tribute and parcels was born. The grants were the land grants granted by the Crown.

These were to be used for grazing or agriculture exclusively. For its part, the encomienda gave the right to certain Spaniards (encomederos) to receive a part of the tributes that the natives paid to the king of Spain. Initially, this system served several purposes:

First, it guaranteed the subordination of the conquered populations and the use of their work by the Spanish colonizers. It was also a means of rewarding Spanish subjects for services rendered to the Crown, allowing them to obtain benefits from conquered, conquerors, and settlers.

Evolution of the system

the beginning

The system of royal grants, tribute, and encomiendas was not established immediately after the Conquest. It was a process that evolved as different interests came together.

First, after the victory of Cortés's army, the soldiers demanded prestige and wealth. Much of the city's loot had been lost.

To support his men, Cortés decided to distribute concessions of people and lands among them. This practice had already been proven in the Caribbean, even Cortés himself had received this type of concession, called encomiendas, in Hispaniola in 1509 and in Cuba in 1511.

However, this was done without the consent of the Crown. Cortés reserved for himself and his friends the best and most select concessions, which upset the rest of the conquerors and those who had no right to the encomiendas for having arrived after the Conquest.

Taking advantage of an absence of Cortés, some usurped the encomiendas granted by Cortés to his men; this was a period of terrible oppression for the natives.

Institutionalization of the system

The encomiendas, despite their informal origin, became an institution. Essentially it was a contract between the Spanish conqueror or colonist and the Crown. Through this contract, the native populations were placed in the care of the encomendero with the corresponding license.

This allowed the encomendero to demand tribute and labor from his indigenous positions. In return, the encomendero gave a percentage of the tribute and the profits to the Spanish Crown.

In turn, the Spanish assumed the responsibility of Christianizing the natives included in the concession. However, they sold and reallocated their parcels very frequently, which is an indication that they viewed the concession more as an economic asset than a religious responsibility.

Political power

Over time the encomenderos came to have a lot of political power. This came to worry the Spanish authorities due to the dangers of a local nobility capable of competing with the peninsular authority. Little by little, the royal control of the granting of encomiendas became more strict.

Even Cortés suffered the consequences of this fear. Carlos V wanted to keep the power of Cortés under control so that he did not threaten the Crown, but he also wanted to reward him.

He solved this dilemma by appointing a viceroy for Mexico. He removed Cortés from formal administration and, at the same time, granted him access to many thousands of acres of land. He came to have greater encomienda rights than those of any other conqueror.

Control of land and royal grants

The regime of royal grants, tribute, and encomiendas was modified over time. In 1524 Cortés issued ordinances to establish limits and obligations to the encomenderos.

Among these considerations, he highlights that they should educate the children of the chiefs. In addition, they could not demand the tribute in gold or work outside their land for more than 20 days, and only the mayor majors had to establish the amount of the tribute. Despite the ordinances, abuses of indigenous people increased.

First Hearing

Later, the first Audiencia of Mexico took full control of the lands and towns of the new colony. Established in 1528, the Audiencia represented the main administrative council of New Spain alongside the Spanish Crown.

Until then the royal mercedes (land concessions) were granted by the captain general. This Audiencia exploited the wealth of the land and dedicated itself to looting the wealth and power of some encomenderos.

Second Hearing

Later a more formal legislative system was established under the second Audiencia. This led to a review of the land grant process, and a number of new regulations were introduced.

As of 1536 the land could only pass into private possession by means of a royal award or concession (royal grant) that had to be issued and confirmed by the king. Royal grants began to be officially granted by the viceroy of New Spain in 1542.

End of orders

Under the auspices of the first Audiencia, several unofficial entrustment grants were awarded. During that time, encomenderos systematically abused the tax system, exacting excessive demands from their subjects.

Overexploitation of this type became especially serious with the expansion of mining activities in the colony.

However, in 1532 a new type of reformed encomienda came into operation. Encomienda privileges were reduced and more restrictive controls on the use of labor were introduced in the 1540s. Tribute taken from indigenous people was regulated, while slavery was prohibited, even as punishment.

In 1629 new laws were enacted to finally render the encomienda concessions inoperative after five generations of existence. Finally, in 1718 most of the encomiendas in the Spanish colonial Empire had been abolished.

Articles of interest

Corporations and Jurisdictions in New Spain.

The Development of Internal Commercial Networks in New Spain.

The Silver Remittances of New Spain in the Exchange.

References

1. Russell, P. (2015). The Essential History of Mexico: From Pre-Conquest to Present. New York: Routledge.
2. Huck, JD (2017). Modern Mexico. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
3. Merrill, TL and Miró, R. (Editors). (nineteen ninety six). Mexico: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. Taken from countrystudies.us.
4. Enfield, GH (2011). Climate and Society in Colonial Mexico: A Study in Vulnerability. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
5. Fernández Fernández, I. (2004). Mexico history. Mexico: Pearson Education.
6. Bacigalupo, MH (1981). A Changing Perspective: Attitudes Toward Creole Society in New Spain (1521-1610). London: Thames.