Don Vasco de Quiroga

Don Vasco de Quiroga

The compendium of various historical documents regarding Don Vasco de Quiroga offers a comprehensive inside view into the life and works of this significant figure of Spanish colonial rule in South America. Vasco de Quiroga became famous as judge of the second Real Audiencia, the governmental committee of Nueva Espana. He distinguished himself through his outstanding commitment to the Indios and is still venerated as a saint by some people today. Personal letters, in addition to a letter by Queen Isabella of Portugal, his testament, or excerpts from his influential writings make Vasco de Quiroga tangible as a historic figure!

The Beginning of a Significant Career

Vasco de Quiroga (ca. 1470–1565), the first Bishop of Michoacán in Mexico, inter alia, came from a noble Castilian family – one of his nephews even became the Cardinal of Toledo. After studying law and theology, de Quiroga was active in North Africa at the behest of the Spanish royal court, inter alia. He would attain great fame and significance for both colonial and world history because of his later deeds on another continent.

Rise to Regent of the New World

Vasco de Quiroga was named a member and judge of the second Real Audiencia at the behest of Queen Isabella of Portugal in 1531. The so-called Audiencia was a judicial body for the administration of the Spanish colonies in the New World. The powerful and influential Audiencia consisted of five so-called oídos, the judges, and operated in the years 1531–1553 before Antonio de Mendoza assumed the regency of Neuva Espana as its first viceroy.

A Man of Justice and the Law

In this position, Vasco de Quiroga distinguished himself as a just and humane judge, as “Legislador, Hombre de la justicia y del derecho” (law-giver, man of justice and the law). He devised, inter alia, the system of the so-called Republicas de Indios, based on Utopia by Thomas More. He additionally founded schools and other support facilities. Vasco de Quiroga is considered to be the protector of the Indios and is venerated as a Saint in some parts of Mexico. His influence was spread by countless writings from his own hand. The 1535 Información en Derecho is surely the most famous. Additionally, he completed a translation of the Utopia into Spanish. The compendium brings together a variety of documents about his person, e.g. a letter to the Conde de Osorno from August 14th, 1531, the nomination of Quiroga by Queen Isabella of Portugal, the wife of Carlos V, as oídor of the Audiencia, the so-called Ordenanzas de Santa Fe, and finally his testament from January 24th, 1565 with instructions for the continuation of his important life’s work.