Bartolomé de las Casas

A Spanish friar who defended Indigenous rights during the colonization of the Americas

Bartolomé de las Casas (1484–1566) was a Spanish Dominican friar, historian, and the first Protector of the Indians appointed by the Spanish crown. Witnessing the brutality of the encomienda system, he renounced his own enslaved laborers and dedicated his life to advocating for Indigenous peoples. His seminal work, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552), exposed atrocities committed by colonizers, sparking international debate on human rights.

Las Casas's ‘New Laws’ of 1542 sought to abolish Indigenous slavery, though their enforcement faced resistance. He argued that Native Americans possessed reason and souls, countering racist justifications for exploitation. While his later support for African slavery remains controversial, his early activism laid groundwork for modern humanitarianism. Discover more at the Las Casas Institute.

His debates with Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda at the Valladolid Controversy (1550–1551) framed enduring questions about colonialism and ethics. By prioritizing empathy over conquest, Las Casas challenged the moral foundations of empire, leaving a legacy that resonates in movements for social justice and decolonization.