The capitulation of Toledo is the power granted by a Royal Decree to the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro to be the governor of Nueva Castilla, on the American continent.
Pizarro had participated in its discovery and exploration during the previous five years. In that company was accompanied by Diego de Almagro.
The terrain alluded to by this capitulation comprised part of what is currently Peru. Specifically, it was 200 leagues that went from the coastal town of Tempulla, today in Ecuador, and Chinda.
Through this decree, the Crown of Castile formalized and consolidated its power in that area of America.
Main characteristics
After the years that Pizarro and Almagro spent in the lands of what would be New Castile, the conquistador from Extremadura set out to travel to Spain to ask for the position of governor.
His first claim was to share the position with his partner, which did not happen at the end.
To his disgrace, the conquistador was arrested as soon as he set foot in Spain due to debts he had left before embarking on his trip.
He had to wait to go free to address King Charles I. He carried as gifts numerous pieces of silver and gold, as well as ceramics and textiles.
The negotiation
Although it is said that the monarch was very impressed by those present from American lands, Pizarro could not negotiate directly with him.
The departure of Charles I to Italy forced the matter to be entrusted to the so-called Council of the Indies.
At the head of this Council was the Count of Osorno. Initially, as noted above, the request was to appoint two governors.
However, the antecedent of what happened years earlier in Santa Marta, where two conquistadores shared the charge and ended feuding, made only Pizarro get the honor.
The Royal Decree
After the end of the negotiations the agreement was signed. On the part of the Crown of Castile the signatory was Queen Isabel, while the Extremadura explorer, illiterate, had to mark with a simple"V".
The first point of this agreement summarizes in general terms agreed by the two parties. The original said the following:
"First of all, I give license to you, the said Captain Francisco Piçarro, so that by us, in our name and of the Royal Crown of Castile, you can continue the said discolouration, conquest of the population of the said province of Peru, fasta dozientas leagues of land along the same coast.
The quas said dozen leguas begin from the town that in the language of Indians is called Teninpulla and later you called Santiago, fasta arrive to the town of Chincha, which can see the said dozens leagues of coast more or less."
The charges granted to Pizarro were three different: governor, senior sheriff and advance, all for life.
He was also granted the ability to entrust Indians. To this must be added an annual salary that was subtracted from the rents of the lands.
Other appointments
Apart from those that corresponded to Pizarro, the same capitulation established other appointments.
The most important is the one from Extremadura, Diego de Almagro. This happened to be the governor of the Tumbes fortress. In addition, he was granted the title of hidalgo and a life annuity.
It was also established that the inhabitants of the discovered zone would be exempt from paying the tithe for the obtained in the gold mines during five years.
References
- Cervantes Virtual. Miscellany of short texts related to the emperor's time. Recovered from cervantesvirtual.com
- History of Peru. Capitulation of Toledo. Retrieved from historiaperuana.pe
- Titu Cusi Yupanqui, Catherine J. Julien. History of How the Spaniards Arrived in Peru. Recovered from books.google.es
- Male Gabai, Rafael. Francisco Pizarro and His Brothers: The Illusion of Power. Recovered from books.google.es
- Peru Routes. The Conquest of Peru. Retrieved from peruroutes.com