The Spanish 'Protector de Indios': A Champion for Native Rights

This episode dives into the fascinating and often overlooked role of the Protector de Indios, a legal advocate appointed by the Spanish Crown to defend indigenous peoples against abuses within the colonial system. We follow the story of one of the most famous protectors, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, and his successors in the audiencias of New Spain and Peru. From the Laws of Burgos (1512) to the New Laws of 1542, we examine how the Protector navigated the tension between royal decrees and local encomendero power. Discover the career of Alonso de Zorita, a judge who compiled native grievances in his 1574 work 'Relación de los señores de la Nueva España', and the lesser-known indigenous protectors like Don Carlos Ometochtli, who petitioned the Council of the Indies. We also explore the limitations of the office: protectors were often underfunded, ignored, or even persecuted. This episode reveals a surprising chapter of colonial legal history where some voices within the empire fought for justice, however imperfectly. #History #FexingoHistory #Colonialism #SpanishEmpire #ProtectorDeIndios #BartoloméDeLasCasas #LawsOfBurgos #NewLaws1542 #AlonsoDeZorita #IndigenousRights #Audiencia #Encomienda #ValladolidDebate #JuanGinésDeSepúlveda #CouncilOfTheIndies #ViceroyaltyOfNewSpain #ViceroyaltyOfPeru #LegalHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo