The Spanish Requirement or Requerimiento was a document intended to be read out to and agreed upon by indigenous peoples during the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Created in 1513, the document outlined the history of Christianity, the superiority of the pope, and the obligation from this day onwards for all indigenous peoples to submit themselves to Spanish royal authority.
More about: Spanish RequirementDefinition
Timeline
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1513The jurist Juan López de Palacios Rubios is tasked with drafting the Spanish Requirement.
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19 Jun 1513The notary Rodrigo de Colmemares reads out the Spanish Requirement for the first time to indigenous people in Colombia.
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15 Nov 1532Hernando de Soto reads out the Spanish Requirement to the Inca ruler Atahualpa.
