Religion was central in defining the purpose of Spanish exploration, but not officially at first. In 1492, the monarchs, Fernando and Isabel, were at the end of a long period of war consolidating Spain under the Catholic faith. The drive to rule under one religion was fluidly transferred to the Spanish expansion, so while the Enterprise of the Indies was initially stated to be an economic venture, it was laden with religious motivation. Years of focusing resources on wars, they were feeling the pressure of falling behind their rival Portugal in the establishment of seafaring routes and maritime trade. Columbus attributed their recent leveraged success to faith in God. "...with very little money you undertook the reconquest of the kingdom of Granada."1 His implication was that his great undertaking could be successful, if they just continued to follow their faith.
Their chosen champion, Christopher Columbus, was Isabel’s equal in religious devotion and it fueled their purpose. The added support of the Pope, in 1493, brought this to the fore. Bartolomé de la Casas describes Columbus as a devout Catholic who lived piously and believed God would guide him to success.2 Columbus’ undated letter to the monarchs quotes Bible passages that bolster courage for the undertaking of the exploration, and he says, “No one should be afraid to undertake any enterprise in the name of Our Savior, as long as it is just and appropriate to his holy service.”3 Casas speaks of him as “everlastingly zealous of the honor of God, and imbued with a burning desire to convert these peoples…”4 His contemporaries viewed him as an instrument of God’s Will, chosen by “Divine Providence.”5 This illustrates that the centrality of religion in Spanish exploration was widely accepted.
The contract between Christopher Columbus and the Spanish crown does not make any statements regarding missionary work or religious conversion. Columbus negotiated for governorship of the new lands (a source of income) and titles that would be passed on to his son. In 1502, he wrote that he had secured these things, saying, “Their majesties promise to give me everything that belongs to me and to put Sir Diego in possession of it all as you will see.”6
In defining the purpose of exploration, even from the beginning, religion was a latent motivator that shaped attitudes, skewed expectations of success, and shaped foreign policy.
1. Geoffrey Symcox and Blair Sullivan, Christopher Columbus and the Enterprise of the Indies: A Brief History with Documents (New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2005), 54.
2. Symcox, 47-48.
3. Symcox, 54.
4. Symcox, 48.
5. Symcox, 57.
6. Symcox, 56.
