1537
Sublimis Deus Declares Indigenous Humanity
Pope Paul III issued the bull Sublimis Deus, proclaiming that the native peoples of the Americas were fully human, possessed of souls, and not to be enslaved. Spanish encomenderos largely ignored it, but the document gave defenders like Bartolome de las Casas a weapon in the struggle over conquest. The bull's argument that indigenous peoples possessed rational souls provided the intellectual foundation for subsequent colonial legislation protecting native rights.
Cusco Drops the Encomienda
Under pressure from reformers and bishops, the colonial authorities in Peru began trying to regulate the grim labor drafts of the encomienda system. The results were uneven at best. Indigenous populations continued to die in silver mines and coca plantations at catastrophic rates through the mid-century. The debate produced sophisticated arguments about natural rights and just war, anticipating Enlightenment philosophy by two centuries.
Queen Jane Dies in Childbirth
Henry VIII's third queen, Jane Seymour, delivered the longed-for male heir Edward at Hampton Court and died twelve days later of puerperal fever. Henry mourned her more genuinely than any other wife, and she would be the only queen buried beside him in Saint George's Chapel at Windsor. The birth of the long-desired Edward VI came at the cost of Jane Seymour's life, and Henry mourned her more genuinely than any other wife.
Diego de Almagro Invades Chile
The conquistador Diego de Almagro marched a ragged army south from Peru into Chile in search of gold, crossing the Andes in a murderous winter that killed hundreds. He returned to Cuzco empty-handed and furious, igniting a civil war with the Pizarro brothers that would devour conquistador society for a decade.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1537?
Saeculum lists 4 curated events from 1537. The most significant is Sublimis Deus Declares Indigenous Humanity: Pope Paul III issued the bull Sublimis Deus, proclaiming that the native peoples of the Americas were fully human, possessed of souls, and not to be enslaved.
What era was 1537 part of?
1537 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1537?
The curated events from 1537 span Europe and South America.