Spanish monarch and colonial officials

The Crown authorizes 150 enslaved Africans for Margarita's pearl fishery

📅 2 April 1582

A royal cédula authorized the purchase in Cabo Verde and Guinea and transport of 150 enslaved Africans to Margarita's pearl fishery. The order shows the Crown's role in organizing coerced labor across...

A royal cédula authorizes 25 more enslaved Africans for Margarita's fortifications

📅 16 September 1587

The Crown authorized the transport of 25 additional enslaved Africans to Margarita for fortification construction. Their coerced labor was to serve colonial defense infrastructure; the surviving...

A royal cédula orders 200 enslaved Africans sent to Nueva Andalucía

📅 12 Juli 1597

A royal cédula ordered the sending of 200 enslaved Africans to Nueva Andalucía. The order demonstrates colonial authorities' efforts to direct African forced labor to eastern Venezuela; the cited...