Clearing the king’s conscience

Tyranny and legal fiction in the New Laws of 1542

Dados Bibliográficos

ID12413634
AutoresMolly Borowitz (0000-0002-2496-6999, Georgetown University, autor correspondente)
Ano2024
Volume33
Fascículo2
Páginas126-149
Data de publicação2024-04-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoColonial Latin American Review (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1060-9164 • E-ISSN: 1466-1802
EditoraRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10609164.2024.2350862
OpenAlexW4400777131
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas19

This essay argues that the New Laws of 1542 responded both legislatively and narratively to contemporary suspicions that Spanish rule in America constituted a tyranny, which, if true, would invalidate Charles V's exclusive rights of sovereignty and property on the continent. To affirm the legitimacy of Charles's authority, the New Laws showed him exercising good governance: reforming the corrupt Consejo de Indias, expanding the duties of the lackadaisical Audiencias, restricting the privileges of abusive encomenderos, and mandating the good treatment of his Amerindian vassals. The changes that the New Laws prescribe for the councilors', oidores', and encomenderos' behavior tell the story of a righteous monarch defending the public good against the incursions of greedy and faithless subordinates, suggesting that they—not he—are the true authors of tyranny in Spanish America

Clearing · Conscience · Economics · Legitimacy · Political science · Sociology · Sovereignty · Colonialism, slavery, and trade · Historical Studies in Latin America · Latin American history and culture · Law