Sharing of Discovered Lands - Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided overseas territories.

1. Context

King John II protested to the Roman Curia and neighbouring kings who benefited from the bulls issued by Alexander VI.

He sent agents to Spain to propose a new dividing line for the overseas territories that was less harmful than that set out in the Inter Caetera.

Instead of a meridian, he suggested adopting a parallel as the boundary, starting from the Canary Islands and extending northwards to separate Portuguese lands from those belonging to the united kingdoms of Castile, León and Aragon.

Thus, much of the southern hemisphere remained unknown, as did most of the Indies and the coveted spice islands.

2. Negotiations and threats

When the initial negotiations failed, Dom João II considered resorting to force or threats. He ordered an armada to be prepared under the command of Dom Francisco de Almeida to occupy the lands discovered by Columbus or resolve the matter militarily.

Fearing conflict and already influenced by Ferdinand of Aragon’s political difficulties in Italy, the Spanish monarchs sent conciliatory envoys, suspending preparations for war and agreeing to new arrangements for dividing overseas territories.

Even the reform or amendment of the papal bull was considered.

3. Signing of the Treaty

The resulting agreement was signed in Tordesillas on 7 June 1494. It was originally entitled ‘Capitulation of the Partition of the Ocean Sea’.

Those who signed for Portugal were Rui de Sousa, Lord of Sagres; João de Sousa; and Aires de Almada, a graduate.

Steward of the king’s household Duarte Pacheco Pereira signed as a witness.

4. Main clauses

The kings of Portugal and Spain agreed to draw a straight line from pole to pole, 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Everything discovered or to be discovered by Portuguese ships east of this line would belong to Portugal and its successors forever.

It was also stipulated that any lands discovered by Columbus by 20 June that were located more than 250 leagues from Cape Verde would belong to Spain. This suggests that the Portuguese were already aware of the existence of the American lands.

5. Defects and consequences

The treaty left some key details unclear: it did not specify which Cape Verde island would mark the starting point for the 370 leagues, nor did it define the equivalent of one degree in leagues (there was disagreement about the measurement).

These gaps led to future controversies, but regardless of the outcome, Portugal secured a portion of the American continent.

Dom João II’s policy ensured the maintenance of exclusive rights to the Indies and the future possession of Brazil.

6. Ratifications and confirmations

The treaty was signed in Arévalo on 2 July and ratified by the Spanish king on 2 August; the Portuguese sovereign confirmed it in Setúbal on 5 September 1494.

It was only in 1506, at the request of Dom Manuel I, that Pope Julius II authorised the Archbishop of Braga and the Bishop of Viseu to ratify the agreement on behalf of the Holy See through the bull Ea quae pro bono pacis.

In 1514, Pope Leo X renewed the concessions made to Portugal in the papal bull Precelso et devotionis, including lands taken from infidels in the Indies and any other region.

7. Legacy

Subsequent popes approved the Treaty of Tordesillas, which represented a significant Portuguese attempt to reduce the impact of Alexander VI’s bulls on maritime expansion, conquest and trade.

It was considered the most important document in Portuguese diplomatic history until 1750, when it was revoked by the Treaty of Madrid.