Capitulation of Toledo of 1529

Capitulation of Toledo
	Spanish governorates in South America in 1529.
Date	26 July 1529
Location	Toledo, Crown of Castile;
Participants	Isabella of Portugal (on behalf of Charles V); Francisco Pizarro; García Fernández Manrique, Count of Osorno; Doctor Diego Beltrán
Outcome	Authorization for Pizarro to conquer and govern New Castile (Peru)

The Capitulation of Toledo was a royal decree issued on 26 July 1529 in Toledo by the Crown of Castile, granting Francisco Pizarro the right to conquer and settle the province of Peru, or New Castile. Signed by Queen Isabella of Portugal (acting for the absent Charles V), the Count of Osorno García Fernández Manrique (president of the Council of the Indies), and Doctor Diego Beltrán, it formalized the conquest of Peru.

The agreement authorized Pizarro to explore and settle a 200-league coastal strip along the South Sea from the Santiago River (near modern Esmeraldas, Ecuador) to Chincha (Peru). This region, already partially explored by Pizarro and Diego de Almagro, encompassed much of the Inca Empire.

South of Chincha, another 200 leagues were granted to Simón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor as a Governorate, though he failed to organize an expedition within five years.

...you, Captain Francisco Pizarro... with the desire to serve us and increase our royal crown, some five years ago... took charge of conquering, discovering, pacifying, and populating along the coast of the South Sea... I the Queen.

— (Excerpt)

Background

After two exploratory voyages along the Pacific coast, Pizarro returned to Panama and convinced partners Almagro and Hernando de Luque to seek royal approval. Denied support by governor Pedro de los Ríos, Pizarro sailed to Spain in 1528, bringing indigenous people, gold, silver, and textiles as proof of a wealthy empire.

Arriving in Seville in 1529, he was briefly imprisoned over old debts but released by royal order. In Toledo, he negotiated with the Council of the Indies. Though Charles V was absent, Queen Isabella signed the capitulation.

Key provisions

Pizarro was named lifelong governor, captain general, adelantado, and alguacil mayor of New Castile, with an annual salary of 725,000 maravedís.
Almagro received the governorship of a fortress in Tumbes and a modest salary.
Luque was appointed Bishop of Tumbes and "protector of the Indians."
The Thirteen of Isla del Gallo were ennobled.
Settlers were granted tax exemptions on gold, trade, and tribute for 5–10 years.
Pizarro had to depart within six months and reach Peru within another six.

Aftermath

The capitulation favored Pizarro over his partners, sowing discord with Almagro. It was supplemented in 1534, extending jurisdiction southward by 270 leagues. In 1539, Pedro Sánchez de la Hoz was granted the Terra Australis near the Strait of Magellan.

References

1 2 Arriaga Rodríguez, Juan Carlos (2014). El Largo Proceso Histórico de Partición Territorial: Las Fronteras de América Latina y el Caribe, Siglos XVI Al XXI. Mexico City: Bonilla Artigas editores, S.A. de C.V. p. 42. ISBN 9786077588740.
↑ Morla Vicuña, Carlos (1903). Estudio histórico sobre el descubrimiento y conquista de la Patagonia y de la Tierra del Fuego. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. p. 49. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
1 2 Lagos Carmona, Guillermo (1985). Los Títulos Históricos - Historia de las fronteras de Chile. Andrés Bello. p. 138.
↑ "Real Cédula approving the Capitulation granted by Charles V to Francisco Pizarro for the conquest and settlement of Peru (Toledo, 26 July 1529)". Cervantes Virtual. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
↑ del Busto Duthurburu, José Antonio (2001). Pizarro (in Spanish). Vol. 1. Lima: Petroperú - Ediciones COPÉ. pp. 191–195, 203–207, 213–217. ISBN 9972-606-21-X.
↑ "Capitulación con el Capitán Francisco Pizarro... (Toledo, 25 de Julio de 1529)". dipublico.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 October 2025.

Bibliography

del Busto Duthurburu, José Antonio. Pizarro. Vol. I. Petroperú - Ediciones COPÉ, Lima, 2001. ISBN 9972-606-21-X
del Busto Duthurburu, José Antonio. La conquista del Perú. Lima: Empresa Editora El Comercio S.A., 2011. ISBN 978-612-306-077-0

External links

Full text of the Capitulation of Toledo (in Spanish)

[Largo-1] 1 2 Arriaga Rodríguez, Juan Carlos (2014). El Largo Proceso Histórico de Partición Territorial: Las Fronteras de América Latina y el Caribe, Siglos XVI Al XXI. Mexico City: Bonilla Artigas editores, S.A. de C.V. p. 42. ISBN 9786077588740.

[2] Morla Vicuña, Carlos (1903). Estudio histórico sobre el descubrimiento y conquista de la Patagonia y de la Tierra del Fuego. Leipzig: F. A. Brockhaus. p. 49. Retrieved 5 June 2025.

[HistoriaDeLasFronteras-3] 1 2 Lagos Carmona, Guillermo (1985). Los Títulos Históricos - Historia de las fronteras de Chile. Andrés Bello. p. 138.

[4] "Real Cédula approving the Capitulation granted by Charles V to Francisco Pizarro for the conquest and settlement of Peru (Toledo, 26 July 1529)". Cervantes Virtual. Retrieved 2 July 2025.

[delBusto2001-5] Busto Duthurburu, José Antonio (2001). Pizarro (in Spanish). Vol. 1. Lima: Petroperú - Ediciones COPÉ. pp. 191–195, 203–207, 213–217. ISBN 9972-606-21-X.

[texto-original-6] "Capitulación con el Capitán Francisco Pizarro... (Toledo, 25 de Julio de 1529)". dipublico.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 October 2025.