Bartolome de las Casas (Las Casas Bartolom de)

(1474-1566)
Born in Seville in August 1474. He was educated at the University of Salamanca, in 1502 went to Santo Domingo, became a priest (1512). Getting Encomienda (ESP. encomienda - care, transfer of land and nominally considered free of Indians under the 'protection' enkomenderos, their owners) in Cuba in 1514 put him in front of a moral problem of relations with the Indians. Las Casas freed his slaves, and then dedicated his life to struggle with the system Encomienda. Obtained an audience with King Ferdinand (1515). Cardinal-regent Jimц?nez de Cisneros appointed Las Casas chief procurator of the Indians. Las Casas proposed to use the Indians to work instead of black slaves in what later repented. Negative conclusion of the Royal Commission led to the suspension of the reforms, but in 1520, Las Casas received from the Emperor Charles V to lead the industry with the permission of free workers-Indians. The experiment failed, and in 1523 Las Casas became a Dominican monk in Santo Domingo. In 1527 began writing a chronicle of Indian History (Historia de las Indias). The main work of his life he created over 37 years. Las Casas again began fighting in 1530, when I went out a decree banning Encomienda in Peru. In 1536 the Guatemalan authorities, hoping to soothe tired of not knowing 'the apostle of Indians', offered him absolute power over Tetselutlanom in Guatemala, if he can subdue the natives of this region by peaceful means. Las Casas met with success, but in 1538 withdrew his leadership of the Order, and in 1539 he was sent to Spain. In Spain, Las Casas wrote several treatises, which held the idea of natural equality of peoples. In 1542 wrote a diatribe shortest message about the destruction of the Indies (Brevsima relacin de la destruccin de las Indias), . read by Charles V, 21 November 1542 adopted a law, . forbade Encomienda and the enslavement of Indians, . Las Casas, and appointed bishop of Chiapas in Mexico,
. New laws, however, have not been enforced. Las Casas left his post and returned to Spain where he played an important role at court and the Council for Indian. Extensive work of Indian history since 1492 till 1520 (Historia general de las Indias desde 1492 hasta 1520, 1877-1879) was published only in the 19.
Died Las Casas in Madrid on July 17, 1566.