This article is about the Dominican friar. For the Portuguese traveler, see Antonio de Montezinos.
Antonio de Montesinos or Antonio Montesino (c. 1475 - June 27, 1540) was a Spanish Dominicanfriar who was a missionary on the island of Hispaniola (now comprising the Dominican Republic and Haiti). With the backing of Pedro de Córdoba and his Dominican community at Santo Domingo, Montesinos was the first European to publicly denounce the enslavement and harsh treatment of the indigenous peoples of the island. His censure initiated an enduring struggle to reform the Spanish conduct towards all indigenous people in the New World. Montesinos' outspoken criticism influenced Bartolomé de las Casas to head the humane treatment of Indians movement.[1][2]
Very little is known about Montesinos' early life. He became a Dominican friar at the convent of St. Stephen in Salamanca, and while Montesinos was here, he may have received an education. He was also a part of the first group of Dominican missionaries to go to Hispaniola in September 1510, under the leadership of Pedro de Córdoba.[3]
Sermon
On December 21, 1511, the fourth Sunday of Advent, Montesinos preached an impassioned sermon. He criticized the practices of the Spanish colonial encomienda system, and decrying the abuse of the Taíno Indian people on Hispaniola.[4]
Listing the injustices that the indigenous people were suffering at the hands of the Spanish colonists, Montesinos proclaimed that the Spanish on the island "are all in mortal sin and live and die in it, because of the cruelty and tyranny they practice among these innocent peoples."[5]"During his sermon, Montesinos also proclaimed that neither he nor any of the other missionaries would allow these slaveholders to partake in confession."[6] According to Bartolomé de las Casas, who was a witness, Montesinos asked those in attendance:
Tell me by what right of justice do you hold these Indians in such a cruel and horrible servitude? On what authority have you waged such detestable wars against these people who dwelt quietly and peacefully on their own lands? Wars in which you have destroyed such an infinite number of them by homicides and slaughters never heard of before. Why do you keep them so oppressed and exhausted, without giving them enough to eat or curing them of the sicknesses they incur from the excessive labor you give them, and they die, or rather you kill them, in order to extract and acquire gold every day.[7]
The sermon outraged the settlers and prominent citizens of Hispaniola, including the governor, Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus, as well as other high-ranking representatives of the king. Montesinos's sermon had a formative impact upon Las Casas, who heard it firsthand.[8] Las Casas became well known for his advocacy of the rights of indigenous peoples of the Americas.
The primary goal of the Preaching Friars (Dominicans) in the New World was to aid and represent the aboriginal American Indians under Spanish and Portuguese rules, for which they fought for over three centuries.[9]
Reactions
As a result of the friars' protests at Santo Domingo, King Ferdinand II initially ordered that Montesinos and other Dominicans who supported him be shipped back to Spain. Ferdinand, at first, referred to the preaching of Montesinos as "a novel and groundless attitude" and a "dangerous opinion [that] would do much harm to all the affairs of that land."[10] After returning to Spain, Montesinos and his supporters were able to persuade the king of their righteous agenda and principles.
As a result, the king convened a commission that promulgated the Laws of Burgos, the first code of ordinances to protect the indigenous people. The laws regulated the treatment and conversion of the indigenous people, and also limited the demands of the Spanish colonizers upon them.[11][12][13]
Later life
In July 1526, under the leadership of Lucas Vásquez de Ayllón, Montesinos, two other Dominicans, and 600 colonists established San Miguel de Gualdape, the first European settlement in what would later become the United States.[14] Founded near Sapelo Sound on the Coast of Georgia, the colony lasted about four months before it succumbed to disease, starvation, and a hostile Indian population. Immediately after the death of Ayllón in October 1526, the settlement was abandoned. Montesinos and the other remaining 150 survivors returned to San Domingo.[15] Before they returned home, it is presumed that Montesinos and the other Dominicans became the first priests to celebrate Mass in the present-day United States.[16]
When Montesinos returned to Hispaniola, he continued to play a prominent role in the region. In 1528, he accompanied Fray Tomás de Berlanga to Spain to see Charles V on matters of "great importance." While in Spain, Montesinos was appointed protector of the Indians in the Province of Venezuela. Charles V then granted the province to Ambrosio Alfinger and Bartolome Sayller, representatives of the Welser banking family, German creditors of the emperor. Montesinos accompanied the German expedition to Venezuela in 1529. On June 27, 1540 Antonio de Montesinos was murdered by an officer of the expedition due to his strong opposition to the exploitation of the Indians.[17]
Legacy
A large statue of Montesinos delivering his sermon is at the seafront of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Facing the sea, the stone and bronze statue is 15 meters tall and was designed by Mexican sculptor Antonio Castellanos. It was donated to the Dominican people by the Mexican government, and dedicated in 1982 by the presidents of Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
^Ph. D., Spanish; M. A., Spanish; B. A., Spanish. "Biography of Antonio de Montesinos, Defender of Indigenous Rights". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
^Bartolome de Las Casas: Witness: Writing of Bartolome de Las Casas. ed and trans by George Sanderlin (Maryknoll: Orbis books, 1993) 66-67.
^See the document prepared by the Order of Preachers, “In Evangelical Solidarity with the Oppressed: the Fifth Centenary Anniversary of the Arrival of the Order in America”(PDF) April 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
Hanke, Lewis. (1946) "Free Speech in Sixteenth-Century Spanish America," The Hispanic American Historical Review, 26,2:135-149.
Hoffman, Paul E. (1990). A New Andalucia and a Way to the Orient: The American Southeast During the Sixteenth Century. LSU Press. ISBN0-8071-1552-5.
Pagden, Anthony (1992). "Introduction". A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, by Bartoleme de Las Casas. Penguin Group. pp. xiii–xli. ISBN0140445625.
Patterson, Jack E. (2010). Fonseca: Building a New World. pp. 214–215. ISBN978-1441494917.
Seed, Patricia. (1992). "Taking Possession and Reading Texts: Establishing the Authority of Overseas Empires," The William and Mary Quarterly, 3,49,2:183-209.
Thomas, Hugh (2003). Rivers of Gold. New York: Random House. pp. 294-300. ISBN0375502041.
Warner, Carl. (1987). "'All Mankind Is One': The Libertarian Tradition In Sixteenth Century Spain," The Journal of Libertarian Studies, 8,2:293–309.
December 28, 2022
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This article is about the Dominican friar For the Portuguese traveler see Antonio de Montezinos Antonio de Montesinos or Antonio Montesino c 1475 June 27 1540 was a Spanish Dominican friar who was a missionary on the island of Hispaniola now comprising the Dominican Republic and Haiti With the backing of Pedro de Cordoba and his Dominican community at Santo Domingo Montesinos was the first European to publicly denounce the enslavement and harsh treatment of the indigenous peoples of the island His censure initiated an enduring struggle to reform the Spanish conduct towards all indigenous people in the New World Montesinos outspoken criticism influenced Bartolome de las Casas to head the humane treatment of Indians movement 1 2 Antonio de MontesinoSculpture by Antonio Castellanos BasichNative nameAnton de MontesinoPersonal detailsBornSalamanca SpainDied1545New GranadaNationalityCastillianDenominationCatholicMottoI am the voice of Christ in the desert of this island Contents 1 Early life 2 Sermon 3 Reactions 4 Later life 5 Legacy 6 References 7 SourcesEarly life EditVery little is known about Montesinos early life He became a Dominican friar at the convent of St Stephen in Salamanca and while Montesinos was here he may have received an education He was also a part of the first group of Dominican missionaries to go to Hispaniola in September 1510 under the leadership of Pedro de Cordoba 3 Sermon EditOn December 21 1511 the fourth Sunday of Advent Montesinos preached an impassioned sermon He criticized the practices of the Spanish colonial encomienda system and decrying the abuse of the Taino Indian people on Hispaniola 4 Listing the injustices that the indigenous people were suffering at the hands of the Spanish colonists Montesinos proclaimed that the Spanish on the island are all in mortal sin and live and die in it because of the cruelty and tyranny they practice among these innocent peoples 5 During his sermon Montesinos also proclaimed that neither he nor any of the other missionaries would allow these slaveholders to partake in confession 6 According to Bartolome de las Casas who was a witness Montesinos asked those in attendance Tell me by what right of justice do you hold these Indians in such a cruel and horrible servitude On what authority have you waged such detestable wars against these people who dwelt quietly and peacefully on their own lands Wars in which you have destroyed such an infinite number of them by homicides and slaughters never heard of before Why do you keep them so oppressed and exhausted without giving them enough to eat or curing them of the sicknesses they incur from the excessive labor you give them and they die or rather you kill them in order to extract and acquire gold every day 7 The sermon outraged the settlers and prominent citizens of Hispaniola including the governor Diego Columbus son of Christopher Columbus as well as other high ranking representatives of the king Montesinos s sermon had a formative impact upon Las Casas who heard it firsthand 8 Las Casas became well known for his advocacy of the rights of indigenous peoples of the Americas The primary goal of the Preaching Friars Dominicans in the New World was to aid and represent the aboriginal American Indians under Spanish and Portuguese rules for which they fought for over three centuries 9 Reactions EditAs a result of the friars protests at Santo Domingo King Ferdinand II initially ordered that Montesinos and other Dominicans who supported him be shipped back to Spain Ferdinand at first referred to the preaching of Montesinos as a novel and groundless attitude and a dangerous opinion that would do much harm to all the affairs of that land 10 After returning to Spain Montesinos and his supporters were able to persuade the king of their righteous agenda and principles As a result the king convened a commission that promulgated the Laws of Burgos the first code of ordinances to protect the indigenous people The laws regulated the treatment and conversion of the indigenous people and also limited the demands of the Spanish colonizers upon them 11 12 13 Later life EditIn July 1526 under the leadership of Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon Montesinos two other Dominicans and 600 colonists established San Miguel de Gualdape the first European settlement in what would later become the United States 14 Founded near Sapelo Sound on the Coast of Georgia the colony lasted about four months before it succumbed to disease starvation and a hostile Indian population Immediately after the death of Ayllon in October 1526 the settlement was abandoned Montesinos and the other remaining 150 survivors returned to San Domingo 15 Before they returned home it is presumed that Montesinos and the other Dominicans became the first priests to celebrate Mass in the present day United States 16 When Montesinos returned to Hispaniola he continued to play a prominent role in the region In 1528 he accompanied Fray Tomas de Berlanga to Spain to see Charles V on matters of great importance While in Spain Montesinos was appointed protector of the Indians in the Province of Venezuela Charles V then granted the province to Ambrosio Alfinger and Bartolome Sayller representatives of the Welser banking family German creditors of the emperor Montesinos accompanied the German expedition to Venezuela in 1529 On June 27 1540 Antonio de Montesinos was murdered by an officer of the expedition due to his strong opposition to the exploitation of the Indians 17 Legacy EditA large statue of Montesinos delivering his sermon is at the seafront of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic Facing the sea the stone and bronze statue is 15 meters tall and was designed by Mexican sculptor Antonio Castellanos It was donated to the Dominican people by the Mexican government and dedicated in 1982 by the presidents of Mexico and the Dominican Republic References Edit Pagden p xxi Hanke 1946 p 142 Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Antonio Montesino Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Thomas 2003 p 294 Warner 1987 p 295 Ph D Spanish M A Spanish B A Spanish Biography of Antonio de Montesinos Defender of Indigenous Rights ThoughtCo Retrieved 2020 02 19 Bartolome de Las Casas Witness Writing of Bartolome de Las Casas ed and trans by George Sanderlin Maryknoll Orbis books 1993 66 67 Warner 1987 p 299 See the document prepared by the Order of Preachers In Evangelical Solidarity with the Oppressed the Fifth Centenary Anniversary of the Arrival of the Order in America PDF Archived April 7 2012 at the Wayback Machine Hanke 1946 p 142 3 Hanke 1946 p 143 Seed 1992 p 202 Warner 1987 p 296 Hoffman 1990 p 61 Hoffman 1990 p 80 1 New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia Hoffman 1990 p 81Sources EditHanke Lewis 1946 Free Speech in Sixteenth Century Spanish America The Hispanic American Historical Review 26 2 135 149 Hoffman Paul E 1990 A New Andalucia and a Way to the Orient The American Southeast During the Sixteenth Century LSU Press ISBN 0 8071 1552 5 Pagden Anthony 1992 Introduction A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies by Bartoleme de Las Casas Penguin Group pp xiii xli ISBN 0140445625 Patterson Jack E 2010 Fonseca Building a New World pp 214 215 ISBN 978 1441494917 Seed Patricia 1992 Taking Possession and Reading Texts Establishing the Authority of Overseas Empires The William and Mary Quarterly 3 49 2 183 209 Thomas Hugh 2003 Rivers of Gold New York Random House pp 294 300 ISBN 0375502041 Warner Carl 1987 All Mankind Is One The Libertarian Tradition In Sixteenth Century Spain The Journal of Libertarian Studies 8 2 293 309 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antonio de Montesinos amp oldid 1119502498, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
