Laws of Burgos

The Leyes de Burgos ( Laws of Burgos ) are a series of laws to the Spanish crown, which deal with the government on the natives in the New World. They were announced on December 27, 1512 in the Spanish city of Burgos, as problems arose through the conquest and colonization of the West Indies ( Caribbean ) for which the common law of Spain had no answers.

The scope of the law was originally limited to the island of Hispaniola, but was later extended to Puerto Rico and Jamaica. The laws authorized and legalized the establishment of encomiendas by the colonial masters. There, the locals were gathered in groups of 40 to 150 people to work for the new masters. However, they also minutely regulated the conditions of life - work, pay, commissions, housing, hygiene and care - the Indians, the laws were animated by a protective and humanitarian spirit. Women who were pregnant at least four months were, for example, exempt from work.

The document finally prohibited the use of any violence by the encomenderos. The monopoly of power was strictly limited to the officials who were responsible in each city for the implementation of the laws. The Leyes arranged further that the locals had to undergo catechesis, outlawed bigamy, and demanded that the huts of the natives, together with those of the Spaniards had to be built. The traditional authorities were respected to some extent. Chiefs were exempt from dirty work and you gave them, similar to the Spanish encomenderos, some locals as a personal servant.

The in many cases inadequate implementation of laws has led to numerous protests and demands. In fact, you looked at the laws just as legalizing the already poor situation. A reform there were 1542 through the Leyes Nuevas ( New Laws ).

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