Charles V had prohibited the enslavement of…
December 1538 CE
Charles V had prohibited the enslavement of conquered subjects, but in 1534 he had revoked that prohibition, at least insofar as to allow slavery of natives captured in a "just war".
When Vasco de Quiroga became aware of this, he had written to Charles his celebrated Información en derecho (1535), in which he strongly condemned the encomenderos, saying that they did not accept the natives as men, but only as beasts.
Appointed in 1536 as the first bishop of the newly established diocese of Michoacán, he had been nominated by Ramírez Fuenleal, after the first candidate Fray Luis de Fuensalida had declined the honor.
The Emperor and the Pope had approved the nomination and in 1537 the appointment was made official.
He takes office in 1538 and will remain in Michoacán as pastor and protector of the Indians for most of the remainder of his life.
As bishop, he transfers the seat of the bishopric from Tzintzuntzán to …