TREATY OF TORDESILLAS: CAUSES, CONTENT AND CONSEQUENCES - HISTORY - 2024

The Treaty of Tordesillas was a document signed on June 7, 1494 in Tordesillas (Valladolid) by King Fernando II of Aragon and Queen Isabel I of Castile, representing Spain; and King Juan II of Portugal as a counterpart.

It took place a few years after the discovery of the New World by the Spaniards from the voyages of Christopher Columbus that began in 1492. The treaty established the division of the zones of navigation and conquest that were in America and in the Atlantic Ocean with the purpose of avoiding conflicts between the kingdom of Portugal and the monarchy of Spain.

The image shows the house where the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed. Source: Txo

The Treaty of Tordesillas was the first between Spain and Portugal that had to do with the American colonies, because before this, agreements had already been signed between both countries. However, the discovery of America brought out the interests of both for the conquest and colonization of new territories.

The treaty remained in force for years but generated conflicts and was not fully respected, for which it was repeatedly annulled by subsequent treaties. Such is the case of the Treaty of Madrid (1750), which in turn was annulled by the Treaty of Annulment (1761) and, finally, by the Treaty of San Ildefonso (1777).

Currently this document is in the Archive of the Torre de Tombo (Lisbon) and since 2007 it is considered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, as it is of the utmost importance to know and understand the history of America and its relations with Europe. as well as the history of the Atlantic Ocean.

Background

The main antecedent to the Treaty of Tordesillas was the Treaty of Alcáçovas, signed on September 4, 1479 by King Fernando II of Aragon and Queen Isabel I of Castile, and King Alfonso V of Portugal.

Its main cause was the War of the Castilian Succession, which was a great civil war between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal for the succession of the crown of Castile, after the death of King Henry IV. With this peace treaty, King Alfonso V renounced the throne of Castile, and the Catholic kings renounced the throne of Portugal.

The purpose of signing this treaty was to restore peace, as well as to delimit territories and rights over the Atlantic Ocean. As a result of this document, Spain was granted power over the Canary Islands, and Portugal some possessions in West Africa.

Causes

When Columbus returned to Lisbon after arriving from his trip to America, the news of the discovery became even more widely known and spread throughout Europe.

In this context, King Juan II of Portugal showed interest in the new territory and wanted to take it as a possession based on the Treaty of Alcáçovas.

King Juan II claimed that said territory was below the Canary Islands, so they belonged to Portugal. Based on this argument, he sent Portuguese pilots to verify it.

Fernando II did not declare to agree with what was exclaimed by the Portuguese king, since the discovery had taken place to the west of the Canary Islands; that is, outside of what had been established in 1479 as territory under the control of the Portuguese.

Papal support

This is how the Catholic kings turned to Pope Alexander VI for support. He developed four pontifical documents known as the Alexandrian bulls, which granted the crown of Castile the right to conquer America, with the obligation to spread Christianity in said territory through missionaries.

In the same way, it condemned to excommunication any person who wanted to carry out any type of activity and sailed towards the Indies through the west without the license granted by the Catholic kings.

King John II did not completely agree with what was established in the Alexandrian bulls, but motivated by his interest in the territory discovered and to be explored, he insisted on negotiating with Queen Elizabeth and King Ferdinand.

What did the Treaty of Tordesillas establish?

After negotiations between the Catholic kings and the King of Portugal, an agreement was finally reached in which a new delimitation of the territory was established: from pole to pole, 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands.

Portugal would have the right to navigate and explore in the eastern hemisphere, while the crown of Castile would have the same right under the western hemisphere. The territory over which Portugal was granted rights was roughly up to what is now Sao Paulo (Brazil).

That same day an agreement was also signed that dealt with fishing in Africa, an issue that had given rise to conflicts in previous years. In this agreement it was determined that the Spanish could not fish between Cape Bojador and the Río de Oro; in addition, the kingdom of Fez was divided for possible future conquests.

Compliance with said treaties was not imposed immediately after signing them, but lapses were granted for compliance: 100 days to respect the established oceanic and terrestrial delimitation, and 50 days to comply with the fishing prohibition and the division over the African territory.

Breach

The problem with the border (both maritime and land) established in the Treaty of Tordesillas was that in practice the navigators and explorers did not know exactly how far they were allowed to go or, for example, how many leagues there were in a degree.

Even from 1580 to 1640 the established treaties lost their meaning since Spain and Portugal were under the command of the same kings; Felipe II, Felipe III and Felipe IV, respectively. This situation achieved the long-desired dynastic union, which lasted 60 years.

Consequences

During the period from 1580 to 1640 the Treaty of Tordesillas was not fulfilled as originally established, since Spain and Portugal had the same ruler in power and by that time a much desired dynastic union was achieved. However, during that time Portugal colonized Brazilian territory that was not assigned to it.

Brazil is a clear reflection of the great influence that the Europeans - in this case, the Portuguese - had on the culture of the discovered, explored and colonized territories. The languages ​​adopted in the colonized territories were and continue to be Spanish and Portuguese.

Among the most important consequences of what is established in the Treaty of Tordesillas are the cultural implications, such as the mixture of races that arose after colonization by the Europeans, Spanish and Portuguese; and the adoption of European customs and traditions in America.

Increase in trade and Christianity

Along with the arrival of Europeans, commercial activity increased in America; the massive cultivation of the lands and the exploitation of mines began. Products generated on this continent, such as sugar and coffee, were taken back to European ports to be commercialized in the markets there.

The gastronomy of both territories, America and Europe, was enriched thanks to the cultural and commercial exchange, as well as the arrival of new products. Similarly, a fusion emerged between indigenous art and European art.

Likewise, as demanded by Pope Alexander VI, Christianity was taught by Jesuit missionaries in America and this became the predominant religion, leaving behind the polytheistic beliefs held by the indigenous people who already populated the lands.

Later treaties

The Treaty of Tordesillas was replaced by the Treaty of Madrid or the Treaty of Swap, on January 13, 1750. This agreement was signed by the kings Fernando VI of Spain and Juan V of Portugal.

In this treaty a new border was established between the territory in America under the law of the Spanish and the Portuguese. This limit would start from the midpoint of the mouth of the Madeira River to the Yavarí River.

However, the Treaty of Madrid was also subsequently annulled by the Treaty of Annulment, signed at the Royal Site of El Pardo (Madrid) on February 12, 1761. In this it was established that the Treaty of Madrid should be taken as canceled for return to the delimitation line established in the Treaty of Tordesillas.

The problem was that, as had happened in previous years, the Treaty of Tordesillas and that imaginary line that represented the border were not respected; The entrances to the west of the border increased and the Jesuit missions were discontinued.

Therefore, several years later another agreement was developed known as the Treaty of San Ildefonso, which was signed on October 1, 1777. In this treaty several resolutions were reached, such as the recovery of peace between both countries, the liberation of prisoners and the fixing of a new border line.

In addition, it was also agreed that the Spanish would leave the island of Santa Catalina (Brazil) in exchange for the Portuguese abandoning the colony of Sacramento (Uruguay) and giving up the islands of Annobón and Fernando Poo (Guinea).

References

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5. Bejarano, M. (2016). The Alexandrine Bulls: Triggers of evangelization in the New World. Retrieved on March 30 from Scielo: scielo.org.mx
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