REQUERIMIENTO
DE PALACIOS RUBIOS

  King Ferdinand II of Spain, 1512
 

  Ferdinand II


The Requerimiento, or Requerimiento de Palacios Rubios, by lawyer Juan López de Palacios Rubios, was composed in 1512 in the context of the Laws of Burgos During the conquest of America it was to be proclaimed publically by the conquerors to groups, assemblies or authorities of the indigenous peoples, as a formal procedure requiring their submission to the Spanish kings and their envoys (the soldier-conquerors).


The Laws of Burgos or Ordinances for the treatment of the Indians were the first laws that the Hispanic Monarchy issued for application in the Indies, the New World or America, in which they abolished indigenous slavery and organized their conquest. They were signed by the Catholic King Fernando II on December 27, 1512 in the city of Burgos for the government of the indigenous peoples, resulting in the first meeting of theologians and jurists who concluded that the King of Castile had just dominion over the American continent and that the indigenous peoples had the legal status of free men with all property rights: that they could not be exploited, but as subjects were required to work in service of the crown Thus were created two institutions: the Requirement and the Encomienda .


War and Slavery for Rebellious and Disobedient


ON behalf of the very high and very powerful and very Catholic defender of the church, always victorious and never defeated, the great King Ferdinand V of Spain of the two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of the Islands and mainlands of the Ocean Sea, etc. Taker of the barbarian people, of the very high and powerful Mrs. the Queen Doña Juana, her very warm and beloved daughter, our Lords, I Dávila your servant, messenger and captain, I notify you and let you know as best I can:

De parte del muy alto y muy poderoso y muy católico defensor de la iglesia, siempre vencedor y nunca vencido el gran Rey don Fernando V de España de las dos Sicilias, de Jerusalén, de las Islas y tierras firmes del Mar Océano, etc. Tomador de las gentes bárbaras, de la muy alta y poderosa Sra. la Reina Doña Juana, su muy cálida y amada hija, nuestros Señores, yo Dávila su criado, mensajero y capitán, los notifico y les hago saber como mejor puedo:

that the Lord our God, Living and Eternal, created the Heaven and the Earth, and one man and one woman, of whom you and we, all the men of the world at the time, were and are descendants, and all those who came after and before us. But, on account of the multitude which has sprung from this man and woman in the five thousand years since the world was created, it was necessary that some men should go one way and some another, and that they should be divided into many kingdoms and provinces, for in one alone they could not be sustained.

Que Dios nuestro señor único y eterno, creó el cielo y la tierra, un hombre y una mujer de quienes nosotros y vosotros fueron y son descendientes y procreados y todos los de después de nosotros vinieron, mas la muchedumbre de la generación y de esto ha sucedido de cinco mil y mas años que el mundo fue creado, fue necesario que unos hombres fuesen de una parte y otros fuesen por otra y se dividiesen por muchos reinos y provincias de que una sola no se podrían sostener ni conservar. 

Of all these nations God our Lord gave charge to one man, called St. Peter, that he should be Lord and Superior of all the men in the world, that all should obey him, and that he should be the head of the whole Human Race, wherever men should live, and under whatever law, sect, or belief they should be; and he gave him the world for his kingdom and jurisdiction.

De todas estas gentes nuestro Señor dio cargo a uno que fue llamado San Pedro, para que de todos los hombres del mundo fuese señor y superior, a quien todos obedeciesen y fuese cabeza de todo lo humano, donde quiera que los hombres estuviesen y viviesen en cualquier ley, secta o creencia, pidiéndole a todo el mundo por su reino, señorío y jurisdicción,

And he commanded him to place his seat in Rome, as the spot most fitting to rule the world from; but also he permitted him to have his seat in any other part of the world, and to judge and govern all Christians, Moors, Jews, Gentiles, and all other Sects. This man was called Pope, as if to say, Admirable Great Father and Governor of men. The men who lived in that time obeyed that St. Peter, and took him for Lord, King, and Superior of the universe; so also they have regarded the others who after him have been elected to the pontificate, and so has it been continued even till now, and will continue till the end of the world.

y como quiera que le mando propusiese su silla en Roma como el lugar mas aparejado para regir el mundo, también le permitió que pudiese estar y poner su silla en cualquier otra parte del mundo, y juzgar, y gobernar a toda la gente, cristianos, moros, judíos, gentiles y de cualquier otra secta o creencia, a este llamaron Papa, que significa admirable, mayor, padre y guardador. A este San Pedro obedecieron y tomaron por señor, Rey y superior del universo, los que en aquel tiempo vivían y asimismo han tenido todos los otros que después de él fueran al pontificado elegido y así se ha continuado hasta ahora y así se continuará hasta que el mundo se acabe. 

One of these Pontiffs, who succeeded that St. Peter as Lord of the world, in the dignity and seat which I have before mentioned, made the gift of these islands and mainlands to the aforesaid King and Queen and to their successors, our lords, with all that there are in these territories, as is contained in certain writings which passed upon the subject as aforesaid, which you can see if you wish.

Uno de los pontífices pasados que en lugar de este mundo, hizo donación de estas Islas y tierras firmes del Mar Océano, a los ricos Rey y Reinas y a los sucesores en estos reinos, con todo lo que en ellas hay según se contienen en ciertas escrituras que sobre ellos basaron,

So their Highnesses are kings and lords of these islands and mainlands  by virtue of this donation: and some islands, and indeed almost all those to whom this has been notified, have received and served their Highnesses, as lords and kings, in the way that subjects ought to do, with good will, without any resistance, immediately, without delay, when they were informed of the aforesaid facts. And also they received and obeyed the priests whom their Highnesses sent to preach to them and to teach them our Holy Faith; and all these, of their own free will, without any reward or condition, have become Christians, and are so, and their Highnesses have joyfully and benignantly received them, and also have commanded them to be treated as their subjects and vassals; and you too are held and obliged to do the same.

así que sus Altezas son Reyes y Sres. de estas Islas y tierras firmes, por virtud de dicha donación y como a tales Reyes y Sres. algunas Islas más y casi todas a quienes esto ha sido modificado has recibido a sus altezas y les han obedecido y servido y sirven como súbditos lo deben hacer, con buena voluntad y sin ninguna resistencia, luego de su inclinación como fueron informado de lo susodicho, obedecieron y recibieron a los valores religiosos que sus Altezas profesaban para que les predicasen y enseñasen la Santa fe, y todos ellos de su humilde y agradable voluntad sin apremio ni condición alguna se hicieron cristianos y lo son, sus Altezas los recibieron alegres y así los mandó tratar como a los otros súbditos y vasallos, los otros son pedidos y obligados a hacer lo contrario.

Wherefore, as best we can, we ask and require you that you consider what we have said to you, and that you take the time that shall be necessary to understand and deliberate upon it, and that you acknowledge the Church as the Ruler and Superior of the whole world, and the high priest called Pope, and in his name the King and Queen Doña Juana our lords, in his place, as superiors and lords and kings of these islands and this mainland by virtue of the said donation, and that you consent and give place that these religious fathers should declare and preach to you the aforesaid.

Por ende, como mejor puedo os ruego y requiero que entendáis bien lo que he dicho, y toméis para entenderlo y deliberar sobre ello el tiempo que fuere justo y reconoscais a la Iglesia por Señora y Superiora del universo mundo y al sumo pontífice llamado Papa en su nombre y al Rey y la Reina nuestros señores en su lugar como Superiores y Señores y Reyes de esta isla y tierra firme por virtud de la dicha donación y consentíais en ese lugar a que estos padres religiosos o declaren los susodichos.

If you do so, you will do well, and that which you are obliged to do to their Highnesses, and we in their name shall receive you in all love and charity, and shall leave you, your wives, and your children, and your lands, free without servitude, that you may do with them and with yourselves freely that which you like and think best, and they shall not compel you to turn Christians, unless you yourselves, when informed of the truth, should wish to be converted to our Holy Catholic Faith, as almost all the inhabitants of the rest of the islands have done. And, besides this, their Highnesses award you many privileges and exemptions and will grant you many benefits.

Si así lo hicieres te ha de ir bien y aquello a que estas obligado, y sus altezas en su nombre los recibirán con todo amor y caridad, los dejarán vuestras mujeres hijos y haciendas libres, sin servidumbre, para que de ellas y nosotros hagáis libremente lo que quisieres y por bien tuvieres y no os compelerán a que tornéis cristianos, salvo si vosotros informados de la verdad quisieres convertir a la religión católica como lo han hecho casi todos los vecinos de estas islas y además de esto su Alteza dará muchos privilegios y exenciones que gozarán muchas veces.

War and slavery for disobedient and rebellious  
BUT, if you do not do this, and maliciously make delay in it, I attest to you that, with the help of God, Si no lo hicieres o en ello dilación maliciosamente pusieres, os certifico que con la ayuda de Dios

we shall forcefully enter into your country,

entraré poderosamente contra vosotros

and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we can,

y os haré guerra por todas las partes y maneras que tuviere

and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and of their Highnesses;

y sujetaré al yugo y obediencias de la iglesia y de sus Altezas

we shall take you and your wives and your children, and shall make slaves of them,

y tomaré vuestras personas y las de vuestras mujeres e hijos y los haré esclavos

and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their Highnesses may command;

y como tales los venderé y dispondré de ellos como su Alteza mandare,

and we shall take away your goods,

y os tomaré vuestros bienes,

and shall do you all the injury and damage that we can, as to vassals who do not obey, and refuse to receive their lord, and resist and contradict him;

y os haré todos los males y daños que pudiere como a vasallos que no obedecen y que no quieren recibir a su señor y le resisten y contradicen

and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault, and not that of their Highnesses, or ours, nor of these cavalry who come with us.

y protesto de los muertes y daños que de ellos se registraren serán a culpa vuestra y no de sus Altezas ni mía, ni de estos caballeros que conmigo vinieron

 And that we have said this to you and made this Requirement, we request the notary here present to give us his testimony in writing, and we ask the rest who are present that they should be witnesses of this Requirement.

y de como lo digo, requiero, pido al presente Escribano que me lo de como testimonio firmado y a los presentes ruego que de ello sean testigo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

   
   

 

 

   
   

 

 

 

 

 

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