Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca

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Fonseca's cenotaph in the Collegiate Church of Toro

Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca (* 1451 in Toro , † March 4, 1524 in Burgos ) was a Spanish statesman and bishop in the early days of discoveries and conquests.

Episcopal dignities

Fonseca was chaplain to Queen Isabella I of Castile and was appointed Bishop of Badajoz in 1494 , which he hardly saw. He later received the dioceses of Cordoba (1499) and Palencia (1505). In 1514 he was transferred to the prestigious bishopric of Burgos , where he later died.

activities

India Council

Fonseca turned his attention to state affairs. He traveled in important diplomatic missions for the Catholic kings (reyes católicos) Isabella I and Ferdinand II. From 1493 until shortly before his death he was in charge of all matters relating to the discovery, conquest and settlement of the New World. He organized the India Council Consejo de Indias and the Casa de Contratación and was in contact with most of the Spanish sailors and conquistadors of the early 16th century. In doing so, he never lost sight of his personal advantage. For many conquistadors, Fonseca was a constant nuisance. He enriched himself in them and hindered their travels.

Antagonist of Columbus

Fonseca was a member of a commission of inquiry that investigated Christopher Columbus because he was unable to control the situation in the new colony. This commission advised Isabella and Ferdinand to withdraw all privileges from the great explorer . The newly discovered areas should be placed directly under the Crown. Columbus was removed from office and sent to Spain in chains. There he was pardoned, but lost his title viceroy and governor , as well as his good reputation.

Opponent of Cortés

Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca was next to Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar the toughest opponent of Hernán Cortés . Since Velázquez got on well with the bishop and had given him lucrative towns and mines in Cuba, he vigorously stood up for Velázquez when he asked him for help against Cortés. Since the bishop presided over the India Council Consejo de Indias , he used his power and threw the messengers that Cortés sent to the royal court into prison. He withheld letters, falsified information and tried to appoint Cristóbal de Tapia , a favorite who had married his niece, as governor of New Spain in order to wrest power from Cortés. Cristóbal de Tapia arrived in New Spain with official documents and blank documents . Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca supposedly issued these documents on behalf of the emperor. In Veracruz , Hernán Cortés' men were not impressed by these documents. Because Cristóbal de Tapia could not prove that Emperor Charles V knew about the takeover in New Spain, they told him in his face that Bishop Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca was behind it. Cortés helped Cristóbal de Tapia with gold gifts over his disappointment and sent him back to Santo Domingo .

The bishop prevented the supply of weapons, soldiers and horses for Cortés from Seville to Vera Cruz and is even said to have embezzled large amounts of gold that Cortés sent to the king. He reported Cortés in court and showered him with trials that occupied the conquistador for years.

Magellan's opponent

When Magellan ( Portuguese Fernão de Magalhães ) wanted to sail around the world in 1519, he needed the approval of the Council of India and its chief official, Bishop Fonseca. But Fonseca did not trust the Portuguese Magellan and ordered him to take the bishop's nephew, Juan de Cartagena , on board; he was supposed to watch over Magellan's journey. However, Cartagena exaggerated the bishop's mandate. He started a mutiny and almost prevented the first circumnavigation of the world. After the mutiny was put down, Juan de Cartagena was abandoned on the South American coast. There the nephew of Bishop Fonseca died.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Bernal Díaz del Castillo: History of the Conquest of Mexico. 1988, p. 143.
  2. ^ Bernal Díaz del Castillo: History of the Conquest of Mexico. 1988, p. 532.
  3. ^ Bernal Díaz del Castillo: History of the Conquest of Mexico. 1988, p. 597 u. 598.
  4. ↑ Urs Bitterli: The discovery of America: from Columbus to Alexander von Humboldt CH Beck 1999, p. 130.
personal data
SURNAME Fonseca, Juan Rodríguez de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Spanish statesman and bishop
DATE OF BIRTH 1451
PLACE OF BIRTH Toro
DATE OF DEATH March 4, 1524
Place of death Burgos