Pedro de Córdoba facts for kids

Pedro de Córdoba (born around 1460, died 1525) was a Spanish missionary. He was a member of the Dominican Order, a group of priests. He lived and worked on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Pedro de Córdoba was one of the first people to speak out against a system called the Encomienda. This system basically made the native people of the New World into slaves. He strongly believed this was wrong.

Pedro de Córdoba's Life and Mission

Pedro de Córdoba was born in Córdoba, Andalusia, a city in southern Spain. He studied theology (the study of religious beliefs) at the University of Salamanca. While there, he joined the Dominican Order.

In September 1510, he traveled to the Island of Hispaniola. He went as a leader for the first group of Dominican missionaries. He was also the first inquisitor (a religious official who investigated beliefs) in the New World. Pedro de Córdoba was a strong protector of the native people, often called "Indians" at the time. He was also a good friend and teacher to Bartolomé de las Casas, another famous defender of native rights.

Helping the Native People

The main goal for these priests was to care for the Spanish settlers. But they also wanted to teach the native people about Christianity. Because of this, they met many native people. They especially met those called "naborias," who worked as servants in Spanish homes. The Dominicans quickly saw how badly these native people were treated. They saw a lot of abuse happening on the island.

Speaking Out for Justice

Seeing the native people suffer so much, the Dominican priests spent many hours discussing the problem. They decided they had to speak out publicly against these terrible acts. They wrote down their message, and every priest in the group signed it. Friar Pedro de Córdoba asked Friar Antonio Montesino to deliver this message. It was preached during a special church service on December 21, 1511. This was just over a year after they arrived on the island.

The exact words of the sermon are not fully saved. But parts of it were later written down by Bartolomé de las Casas. In his book, he wrote that Friar Antonio de Montesinos stood up and said, "I am the voice of one crying in the desert."

The main reason for their protest was that the native people were not being treated as human beings. The priests asked, "Are these not persons? Do they not have rational souls?" They believed that all people had dignity. Because of this, the priests told the Spanish colonizers:

• You are all committing serious sins. You live and will die in these sins.
• You cannot be saved if you continue this way. Your actions show you do not truly believe in Jesus Christ.
• If you keep mistreating the native people, we will not forgive your sins when you confess them.

Important Writings

Pedro de Córdoba wrote a book called "Doctrina cristiana para instruccion é informacion de los Indios por manera de historia". This book was printed in Mexico in 1544. It was meant to help educate the native people, especially those on the Caribbean islands. It is one of the earliest catechism books (books of religious instruction) written in America.

In 1513, Friar Pedro de Córdoba convinced King Ferdinand II to let the Dominicans go to the mainland. They wanted to peacefully teach the native people there. Friar Antonio Montesinos led this mission. They went to a valley in what is now Venezuela. Local leaders welcomed them. The king had promised that slave traders and settlers would stay away from the Dominicans.

Friar Pedro also started a new religious province (a region for the religious order) called Santa Cruz. He was known as a great priest. Many people, including other religious leaders, regular people, and native people, respected him greatly. He passed away in Santo Domingo in 1521.

His Works

Friar Pedro de Córdoba wrote several important works, including:

• Doctrina cristiana para instruccion é informacion de los Indios por manera de historia: This was his famous book for teaching native people.
• Many Memoriales al Rey: These were reports to the King about the lives of the native people. They covered their social, cultural, and economic situations.
• Instrucciones.
• Sermones.

He also wrote many Cartas (Letters). He often wrote these with other Dominican missionaries to defend the native people. Some of these letters include:

• Carta del Vice-Provincial y sacerdotes del convento de Santo Domingo, dirigida a los muy reverendos padres (April or May 1517).
• Carta de dominicos y franciscanos de las Indias a los Regentes de España (Santo Domingo, May 27, 1517).
• Carta al Rey del Padre Fr. Pedro de Córdoba, Vice-Provincial de la Orden de Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo, May 28, 1517).
• Carta del Padre Fray Pedro de Córdoba al Padre Fray Antonio Montesinos (September 26, 1517).

See also

In Spanish: Pedro de Córdoba para niños