Treaty of Tordesillas | Age of Exploration

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two nations, adjusted the Line of Demarcation, and enforced the Doctrine of Discovery.

Overview

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement made between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two Christian nations. It moved the Line of Demarcation established by Inter Caetera (1493) to 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. The treaty excluded the Pope from negotiations and sought to resolve territorial disputes. Though it provided a temporary solution, it caused long-term conflicts, especially after Portugal claimed Brazil in 1500. It remained in effect until both nations ended it in 1761.

Essential Facts

Key People: Ferdinand of Aragon, Isabella of Castile, King John II of Portugal, Pope Alexander VI, Pope Julius II.
Part Of: Age of Exploration, Settlement of the Americas, Spain in the New World.
Significance: The Treaty of Tordesillas is important to American History because it marked the first formal attempt by European powers to divide the non-European world for exploration and colonization, laying the groundwork for the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the New World.

Historical Notes

Disputes Over New World Exploration and Papal Authority

Christopher Columbus’s 1492 Voyage of Discovery for Spain created diplomatic issues with Portugal due to earlier Portuguese explorations along the coast of Africa.
Before Columbus’s voyage, Portugal faced no competition in exploring Africa’s coast.
Portugal claimed the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde islands.

Papal bulls (orders) issued by Pope Nicholas V between 1452 and 1454 allowed Portugal to conquer non-Christians during the Age of Exploration.

These bulls described Portuguese territory as Africa’s “south coast and east side.”
A 1481 papal bull gave the Portuguese Order of Christ authority over new discoveries.
The Order of Christ was a religious group created by Prince Henry the Navigator.

AHC Notes

Azores — The Azores are an archipelago of nine islands located in the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Iberian Peninsula. During the Age of Discovery, they were an important stop on the westward voyage to the New World. The Azores were east of the Line of Demarcation and remained under Portugal’s control.
Prince Henry the Navigator (1394–1460) — Prince Henry was a Portuguese soldier and prince who promoted the exploration of Africa, leading to the Age of Exploration, the development of the African Slave Trade, and the growth of Mercantilism.

Papal Bulls Favor Spain and Trigger Portuguese Anger

Columbus returned from his first voyage in 1493 and went to Seville, where he reported his discovery of Hispaniola. This raised questions over who would have authority over the territories in the New World.

Ferdinand and Isabella, who were devout Christians, believed it was up to Pope Alexander VI to decide, as he was the head of the Church.
Ferdinand and Isabella sent ambassadors to meet with Pope Alexander VI in support of their claims to the discoveries made by Columbus.

Pope Alexander VI was a Spaniard who needed political support from Ferdinand and Isabella for his own ambitions. Alexander issued four papal bulls (orders) in the summer of 1493.

The first two granted Castile the rights to the discoveries made by Columbus.
The third, Inter Caetera, established the Line of Demarcation (a dividing line) between Spanish and Portuguese claims, and established the Doctrine of Discovery. The Line of Demarcation was set at 100 leagues (approximately 300 miles) southwest of the Azores and Cape Verde islands.
The Doctrine of Discovery allowed Spain and Portugal to claim inhabited territory, as long as the people were not Christians.
The fourth extended Spanish control to territories that might be found elsewhere, and failed to set a western boundary. This essentially gave Spain the rights to any new lands found west of the Line of Demarcation, and required other nations to acquire a licence from Spain to cross to the western side of the boundary.

These orders threatened Portugal’s claim to India. King John II of Portugal was outraged because the orders limited Portuguese sea routes to those around the Cape of Good Hope.

John wanted the Line of Demarcation set further west, at 370 leagues instead of 100.
The reason for this is unclear, but some historians believe the Portuguese were aware of the unexplored territory southeast of Hispaniola.
Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral reached the coast of Brazil in 1500 and claimed it for Portugal.
Most of Brazil was east of the Line of Demarcation, while most of North America was reserved for Spain.

AHC Notes

Pope Alexander VI (1431–1503) — Rodrigo Borgia was a member of the Borgia Family in the Kingdom of Valencia under the Crown of Aragon. His family had strong political ties, and his uncle was Pope Callistus III. Borgia became a cardinal in 1456 and Pope in 1492. He was a controversial figure, known for his political ambitions and numerous mistresses. In 1493, he issued the papal bulls that established the Line of Demarcation and the Doctrine of Discovery.
Inter Caetera — A papal bull issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493. It divided the New World between Spain and Portugal along a Line of Demarcation and established the Doctrine of Discovery. Inter Caetera played a significant role in shaping European expansion in the Americas and established legal precedents.
Line of Demarcation — The Line of Demarcation, also known as the Papal Line of Demarcation, was a boundary established by Pope Alexander VI in his papal bull Inter Caetera (1493). Its purpose was to avoid conflicts between the two Christian powers of Spain and Portugal by defining their spheres of influence in the exploration and colonization of the New World. The line ran from pole to pole, dividing the world into two zones: the eastern zone, granted to Portugal, and the western zone, granted to Spain. Portugal received rights to lands and territories east of the line, including present-day Brazil, while Spain gained rights to territories west of the line, encompassing most of the Americas. Over time, the line was adjusted through various treaties, including the Treaty of Tordesillas, and through negotiations as other European powers entered the exploration and colonization scene.
Doctrine of Discovery — The Doctrine of Discovery was established by Pope Alexander VI in his papal bull Inter Caetera (1493). It authorized Spain and Portugal to explore and colonize inhabited regions, as long as the people they found were not Christians. The Doctrine declared that Christianity should be shared and spread so that “he health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself.” It established a legal precedent for claiming the lands of non-Christian peoples.
Brazil — Brazil is a vast geographical region in South America that became Portugal’s only colony in the New World. In 1500, Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral was on a voyage to India when strong winds blew him westward as he rounded the southern tip of Africa. Cabral’s fleet eventually landed on the coast of Brazil, near the present-day state of Espírito Santo, and he claimed it for Portugal. Upon hearing of the discovery, Portugal commissioned Amerigo Vespucci to lead an expedition to Brazil. In 1501, Vespucci explored the region between Bahía and Rio de Janeiro.

Negotiations Between Spain and Portugal

Spain and Portugal decided to settle their differences over the Line of Demarcation through a treaty, instead of relying on the Pope. The representatives met in Tordesillas, a town in Castile.

Spain appointed Garcia de Carvajal and Rodrigo Maldonado de Talavera as ambassadors. Talavera was an expert on Columbus’s original plan for crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Portugal sent Ruy de Sousa and Arias de Almadana as its representatives.

Provisions of the Treaty of Tordesillas

Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas on June 7, 1494, which included the following provisions.

Spain and Portugal claimed the sole right to divide new discoveries and excluded the Pope from negotiations between the two nations.
The agreement applied to both current and future territorial claims.
The Line of Demarcation was moved further west to 370 leagues (approximately 1,110 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands.
The treaty required both nations to send a joint surveying team to the area within 10 months.

Long-Term Disputes and Consequences of the Treaty of Tordesillas

Although the Treaty of Tordesillas offered a short-term fix, many issues were left unresolved, which led to tensions between Spain, Portugal, and the Church.

Spain and Portugal disagreed on how to place the Line of Demarcation, either from the westernmost or the central Cape Verde island.
The Vatican objected to being excluded from the treaty at first. Pope Julius II eventually approved it in 1506.

After Portugal claimed Brazil in 1500, tensions accelerated with Spain, and contributed to alterations in the Line of Demarcation.

Surveying the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil made establishing the Line difficult.
Both nations disputed claims to the Molucca Islands.
Extending the Line into the Eastern Hemisphere divided Asia. China was assigned to Portugal and Japan to Spain.

Despite British and French colonization, the treaty remained in effect until 1761, when Spain and Portugal agreed to end it.

AP US History Alignment

The Treaty of Tordesillas is part of the following units, topics, and chapters in the AP US History curriculum:

Unit 1: 1491–1607

Notes

Appendix

Inter Caetera (1493) — Division of the undiscovered world between Spain and Portugal

Alexander, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to the illustrious sovereigns, our very dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, king, and our very dear daughter in Christ, Isabella, queen of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Sicily, and Granada, health and apostolic benediction. Among other works well pleasing to the Divine Majesty and cherished of our heart, this assuredly ranks highest, that in our times especially the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself. Wherefore inasmuch as by the favor of divine clemency, we, though of insufficient merits, have been called to this Holy See of Peter, recognizing that as true Catholic kings and princes, such as we have known you always to be, and as your illustrious deeds already known to almost the whole world declare, you not only eagerly desire but with every effort, zeal, and diligence, without regard to hardships, expenses, dangers, with the shedding even of your blood, are laboring to that end; recognizing also that you have long since dedicated to this purpose your whole soul and all your endeavors — as witnessed in these times with so much glory to the Divine Name in your recovery of the kingdom of Granada from the yoke of the Saracens — we therefore are rightly led, and hold it as our duty, to grant you even of our own accord and in your favor those things whereby with effort each day more hearty you may be enabled for the honor of God himself and the spread of the Christian rule to carry forward your holy and praiseworthy purpose so pleasing to immortal God.

We have indeed learned that you, who for a long time had intended to seek out and discover certain islands and mainlands remote and unknown and not hitherto discovered by others, to the end that you might bring to the worship of our Redeemer and the profession of the Catholic faith their residents and inhabitants, having been up to the present time greatly engaged in the siege and recovery of the kingdom itself of Granada were unable to accomplish this holy and praiseworthy purpose; but the said kingdom having at length been regained, as was pleasing to the Lord, you, with the wish to fulfill your desire, chose our beloved son, Christopher Columbus, a man assuredly worthy and of the highest recommendations and fitted for so great an undertaking, whom you furnished with ships and men equipped for like designs, not without the greatest hardships, dangers, and expenses, to make diligent quest for these remote and unknown mainlands and islands through the sea, where hitherto no one had sailed; and they at length, with divine aid and with the utmost diligence sailing in the ocean sea, discovered certain very remote islands and even mainlands that hitherto had not been discovered by others; wherein dwell very many peoples living in peace, and, as reported, going unclothed, and not eating flesh. Moreover, as your aforesaid envoys are of opinion, these very peoples living in the said islands and countries believe in one God, the Creator in heaven, and seem sufficiently disposed to embrace the Catholic faith and be trained in good morals.

And it is hoped that, were they instructed, the name of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, would easily be introduced into the said countries and islands. Also, on one of the chief of these aforesaid islands the said Christopher has already caused to be put together and built a fortress fairly equipped, wherein he has stationed as garrison certain Christians, companions of his, who are to make search for other remote and unknown islands and mainlands. In the islands and countries already discovered are found gold, spices, and very many other precious things of divers kinds and qualities.

Wherefore, as becomes Catholic kings and princes, after earnest consideration of all matters, especially of the rise and spread of the Catholic faith, as was the fashion of your ancestors, kings of renowned memory, you have purposed with the favor of divine clemency to bring under your sway the said mainlands and islands with their residents and inhabitants and to bring them to the Catholic faith. Hence, heartily commending in the Lord this your holy and praiseworthy purpose, and desirous that it be duly accomplished, and that the name of our Savior be carried into those regions, we exhort you very earnestly in the Lord and by your reception of holy baptism, whereby you are bound to our apostolic commands, and by the bowels of the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, enjoin strictly, that inasmuch as with eager zeal for the true faith you design to equip and despatch this expedition, you purpose also, as is your duty, to lead the peoples dwelling in those islands and countries to embrace the Christian religion; nor at any time let dangers or hardships deter you therefrom, with the stout hope and trust in your hearts that Almighty God will further your undertakings.

And, in order that you may enter upon so great an undertaking with greater readiness and heartiness endowed with the benefit of our apostolic favor, we, of our own accord, not at your instance nor the request of anyone else in your regard, but of our own sole largess and certain knowledge and out of the fullness of our apostolic power, by the authority of Almighty God conferred upon us in blessed Peter and of the vicarship of Jesus Christ, which we hold on earth, do by tenor of these presents, should any of said islands have been found by your envoys and captains, give, grant, and assign to you and your heirs and successors, kings of Castile and Leon, forever, together with all their dominions, cities, camps, places, and villages, and all rights, jurisdictions, and appurtenances, all islands and mainlands found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered towards the west and south, by drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole, namely the north, to the Antarctic pole, namely the south, no matter whether the said mainlands and islands are found and to be found in the direction of India or towards any other quarter, the said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards the west and south from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores and Cape Verde.

With this proviso however that none of the islands and mainlands, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered, beyond that said line towards the west and south, be in the actual possession of any Christian king or prince up to the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ just past from which the present year one thousand four hundred and ninety-three begins. And we make, appoint, and depute you and your said heirs and successors lords of them with full and free power, authority, and jurisdiction of every kind; with this proviso however, that by this our gift, grant, and assignment no right acquired by any Christian prince, who may be in actual possession of said islands and mainlands prior to the said birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, is hereby to be understood to be withdrawn or taken away.

Moreover we command you in virtue of holy obedience that, employing all due diligence in the premises, as you also promise — nor do we doubt your compliance therein in accordance with your loyalty and royal greatness of spirit — you should appoint to the aforesaid mmainlands and islands worthy, God-fearing, learned, skilled, and experienced men, in order to instruct the aforesaid inhabitants and residents in the Catholic faith and train them in good morals. Furthermore, under penalty of excommunication late sententie to be incurred ipso facto , should anyone thus contravene, we strictly forbid all persons of whatsoever rank, even imperial and royal, or of whatsoever estate, degree, order, or condition, to dare, without your special permit or that of your aforesaid heirs and successors, to go for the purpose of trade or any other reason to the islands or mainlands, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered, towards the west and south, by drawing and establishing a line from the Arctic pole to the Antarctic pole, no matter whether the mainlands and islands, found and to be found, lie in the direction of India or toward any other quarter whatsoever, the said line to be distant one hundred leagues towards the west and south, as is aforesaid, from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores and Cape Verde; apostolic constitutions and ordinances and other decrees whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

We trust in Him from whom empires and governments and all good things proceed, that, should you, with the Lord’s guidance, pursue this holy and praiseworthy undertaking, in a short while your hardships and endeavors will attain the most felicitous result, to the happiness and glory of all Christendom. But inasmuch as it would be difficult to have these present letters sent to all places where desirable, we wish, and with similar accord and knowledge do decree, that to copies of them, signed by the hand of a public notary commissioned therefor, and sealed with the seal of any ecclesiastical officer or ecclesiastical court, the same respect is to be shown in court and outside as well as anywhere else as would be given to these presents should they thus be exhibited or shown. Let no one, therefore, infringe, or with rash boldness contravene, this our recommendation, exhortation, requisition, gift, grant, assignment, constitution, deputation, decree, mandate, prohibition, and will. Should anyone presume to attempt this, be it known to him that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at St. Peter’s, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand four hundred and ninety-three, the fourth of May, and the first year of our pontificate.

Gratis by order of our most holy lord, the pope.

Alexander VI
May 4, 1493

Written by Randal Rust