Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca
Encyclopedia
Juan Rodriguez de Fonseca (Toro, Zamora 1451 — Burgos, March 4, 1524) was a Spanish bishop, a courtier and bureaucrat whose position as chaplain to Queen Isabella
enabled him to become a powerful counsellor to Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs. These sovereigns entrusted him with building a colonial administration from as early as Columbus’ second voyage in 1493
, which he organized. From that date he gained increasing influence over Castilian colonial policy and emerged as the crown’s de facto minister of colonial affairs.
Fonseca clashed early with Columbus who, he believed, was asserting too much independence from royal authority, and in 1499, Queen Isabella, influenced by Fonseca, removed Columbus as governor of the newly-found lands overseas. Fonseca then began to plan and organize a series of voyages, under such captains as Alonso de Ojeda
, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
, Diego de Lepe, and Rodrigo de Bastidas
, which steadily expanded new discoveries and increased understanding of the islands and mainland of what quickly became known as a New World
.
In 1503 Fonseca organized and supervised an important new institution called the Board of Trade which assumed major responsibilities over the management of the new overseas settlements. He also took the leading role in the evolving Council of the Indies, which in time became the most influential royal institution governing the new settlements. Upon the death of Queen Isabella in 1504, an aging King Ferdinand
allowed Fonseca almost unlimited scope in administering the overseas colonies.
Upon Ferdinand’s death in 1516, Fonseca continued his work under the new sovereign, Charles I (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor)
. He rounded off his career by sponsoring and organizing the epochal voyage of Ferdinand Magellan
, the first one to circumnavigate the globe.
Over his long career, Fonseca inevitably made many enemies, most notably Bartolomé de las Casas
, known as the Protector of the Indians
, who denounced him for his indifference to the cruelties that Spanish settlers inflicted on the native population of the new lands. He also clashed with Hernan Cortés
, conqueror of Mexico, which led to his removal from office in 1523, the year before his death.
Fonseca was successively bishop of Badajoz, of Cordoba, of Palencia, and, finally, of Burgos, one of Castile’s wealthiest diocese. He was also named titular archbishop of Rosano, in the Kingdom of Naples
. In 1513 Ferdinand asked the pope to elevate Fonseca to a new title, that of Patriarch of the Indies, a position that would bring a cardinal’s red hat. But such a patriarch was not created until the year of Fonseca’s death, 1524.
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
enabled him to become a powerful counsellor to Ferdinand and Isabella, the Catholic Monarchs. These sovereigns entrusted him with building a colonial administration from as early as Columbus’ second voyage in 1493
Voyages of Christopher Columbus
In the early modern period, the voyages of Columbus initiated European exploration and colonization of the American continents, and are thus of great significance in world history. Christopher Columbus was a navigator and an admiral for Castile, a country that later founded modern Spain...
, which he organized. From that date he gained increasing influence over Castilian colonial policy and emerged as the crown’s de facto minister of colonial affairs.
Fonseca clashed early with Columbus who, he believed, was asserting too much independence from royal authority, and in 1499, Queen Isabella, influenced by Fonseca, removed Columbus as governor of the newly-found lands overseas. Fonseca then began to plan and organize a series of voyages, under such captains as Alonso de Ojeda
Alonso de Ojeda
Alonso de Ojeda was a Spanish navigator, governor and conquistador. His name is sometimes spelled Alonzo and Oxeda.-Early life:...
, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón was a Spanish navigator, explorer, and conquistador, the youngest of the Pinzón brothers...
, Diego de Lepe, and Rodrigo de Bastidas
Rodrigo de Bastidas
Rodrigo de Bastidas was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who mapped the northern coast of South America and founded the city of Santa Marta.-Early life:...
, which steadily expanded new discoveries and increased understanding of the islands and mainland of what quickly became known as a New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
.
In 1503 Fonseca organized and supervised an important new institution called the Board of Trade which assumed major responsibilities over the management of the new overseas settlements. He also took the leading role in the evolving Council of the Indies, which in time became the most influential royal institution governing the new settlements. Upon the death of Queen Isabella in 1504, an aging King Ferdinand
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
allowed Fonseca almost unlimited scope in administering the overseas colonies.
Upon Ferdinand’s death in 1516, Fonseca continued his work under the new sovereign, Charles I (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor)
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. He rounded off his career by sponsoring and organizing the epochal voyage of Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
, the first one to circumnavigate the globe.
Over his long career, Fonseca inevitably made many enemies, most notably Bartolomé de las Casas
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Bartolomé de las Casas O.P. was a 16th-century Spanish historian, social reformer and Dominican friar. He became the first resident Bishop of Chiapas, and the first officially appointed "Protector of the Indians"...
, known as the Protector of the Indians
Protector of the Indians
Protector of Indians was an administrative office of the Spanish colonies, that was responsible for attending to the well being of the native populations, including speaking on their behalf in courts and reporting back to the King of Spain.-Origins:...
, who denounced him for his indifference to the cruelties that Spanish settlers inflicted on the native population of the new lands. He also clashed with Hernan Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca was a Spanish Conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century...
, conqueror of Mexico, which led to his removal from office in 1523, the year before his death.
Fonseca was successively bishop of Badajoz, of Cordoba, of Palencia, and, finally, of Burgos, one of Castile’s wealthiest diocese. He was also named titular archbishop of Rosano, in the Kingdom of Naples
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
. In 1513 Ferdinand asked the pope to elevate Fonseca to a new title, that of Patriarch of the Indies, a position that would bring a cardinal’s red hat. But such a patriarch was not created until the year of Fonseca’s death, 1524.