{
  "id": "recopilacion-de-leyes-de-indias",
  "type": "entity",
  "name": "Recopilación de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias",
  "summary": "The code of the Spanish Indies, first printed at Madrid by Julián de Paredes in 1681 in four volumes and nine books, and still being reprinted by order of the Council of the Indies in 1791. Its distinguishing feature is the margin: every law is printed beside the monarch, place and date of the order it consolidates, which makes the compilation an audit trail of its own empire — including of the provisions that had to be issued over and over.",
  "locale": "en",
  "tags": [
    "colonial-law",
    "law",
    "legislation",
    "colonial-institutions",
    "spanish-empire",
    "books",
    "printing"
  ],
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "bayles-y-borracheras-de-los-indios"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "reglamento-del-comercio-de-filipinas-1734"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cajas-de-comunidad-de-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "juzgado-general-de-naturales"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "solorzano-politica-indiana"
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      "rel": "related",
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "casas-de-moneda-de-las-indias"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "protomedicato-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "inca-garcilaso-de-la-vega"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ordenanzas-de-poblacion-1573"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "protector-de-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "new-laws-of-1542"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "isabel-i-of-castile"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "misconceptions-spanish-empire"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "real-tribunal-general-de-mineria"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ordenanzas-para-el-tratamiento-de-los-indios-1513"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "palafox-virtudes-del-indio"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "leon-pinelo-epitome-1629"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "relaciones-geograficas-de-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "sandoval-naturaleza-policia-1627"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "juicio-de-residencia"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "republica-de-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "puga-cedulario-1563"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "concilio-provincial-mexicano-iii-1585"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "puga-cedulario-1563"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "spanish-mining-law-in-the-american-west"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ganancial-property-in-united-states-law"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "juan-ruiz-de-alarcon"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ordenanzas-del-archivo-general-de-indias-1790"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ordenanzas-municipales-de-cortes-1525"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "community-acequias-and-the-pueblo-water-right"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "public-provision-in-spanish-new-orleans"
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      "rel": "related",
      "target": "real-hospicio-de-pobres-de-mexico"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "montepio-de-viudas-en-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "real-ordenanza-de-intendentes-1786"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "real-instruccion-de-tierras-1754"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "decretos-de-cadiz-para-america-1810-1811"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "correos-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "coartacion"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "instruccion-sobre-el-trato-de-esclavos-1789"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "reglamento-de-comercio-libre-1778"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "libros-que-se-imprimen-y-pasan-a-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cacicazgos-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "privilegios-de-tlaxcala"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tributos-y-tasas-de-los-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "constitucion-de-cadiz-1812-en-america"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "audiencia-de-charcas"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tamemes-y-el-cargar-de-los-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tribunal-de-la-acordada"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "examen-y-etica-de-los-abogados-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "yanaconas-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "castilian-language-question-in-the-indies"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "bando-de-curacion-de-heridos-1777"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "silk-raising-in-new-spain"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "freedom-of-marriage-in-the-laws-of-the-indies"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "vineyards-of-spanish-america"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "criollo-sheep-of-the-americas"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "personas-miserables-in-the-law-of-the-indies"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "bienes-de-difuntos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "gracias-al-sacar-arancel-1795"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "obrajes-de-nueva-espana"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "consulados-de-lima-y-mexico"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "universidad-de-san-carlos-de-guatemala"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "interpretes-de-las-audiencias-de-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "alhondiga-y-posito-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "propios-y-arbitrios-de-las-ciudades-de-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "extramural-cemeteries-in-the-indies"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "fundo-legal-de-los-pueblos-de-indios"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "instruccion-sobre-ventas-de-tierras-de-indios-1781"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "abogado-y-procurador-de-pobres-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "visita-de-carcel-en-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "indios-presos-por-deudas"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "corregidor-de-indios"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "mesta-de-la-nueva-espana"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "universidad-de-san-geronimo-de-la-habana"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "consejo-de-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "colegio-de-san-juan-de-letran"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "pesquerias-de-perlas-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cofradias-de-indios"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "indios-outside-the-jurisdiction-of-the-inquisition"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "fiel-executoria-de-la-ciudad-de-mexico"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "san-lorenzo-de-los-negros"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "sangleyes-de-filipinas"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "servicio-en-coca-y-anir"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tribunales-de-cuentas-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "escribanos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "herrera-descripcion-de-las-indias-ocidentales"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "diccionario-de-autoridades-1726"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "spanish-and-mexican-land-titles-in-united-states-law"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "juzgado-de-bienes-de-difuntos"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "obrajes-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "las-siete-partidas"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "juicio-de-amparo"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "libertad-de-los-indios-de-chile"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "diezmos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "piloto-mayor-y-cosmografos-de-la-casa-de-la-contratacion"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "universidad-de-los-mareantes-de-sevilla"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "enfermos-en-las-armadas-y-flotas-de-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "incompatibilidades-de-los-oidores-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "comercio-y-mantenimientos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "indigenous-custom-as-law-in-the-indies"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cantores-de-los-pueblos-de-indios"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "obras-publicas-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "negros-fugitivos-de-colonias-estrangeras"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "seda-de-la-nueva-espana"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "casados-de-las-indias"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "jornal-de-los-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "visita-de-la-tierra-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "herrera-historia-general-decada-octava"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "operacion-cesarea-en-nueva-espana"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "mestizos-en-el-derecho-indiano"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "pastos-montes-y-aguas-comunes"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "olivares-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tambos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "testamentos-de-indios"
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    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "tianguis-y-mercados-de-indios"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "patronato-real-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "alcabala-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "bulas-de-paulo-iii-de-1537"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cabildos-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "real-pragmatica-de-matrimonios-en-las-indias-1778"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "capellanias-y-obras-pias-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "campillo-nuevo-sistema-1789"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "ensaye-y-marca-del-oro-y-plata-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "coronista-mayor-de-las-indias"
    },
    {
      "rel": "related",
      "target": "cosmografo-y-catedratico-de-matematicas-del-consejo-de-indias"
    }
  ],
  "questions": [
    "What is the Recopilación de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias?",
    "When was the law of the Spanish Indies codified?",
    "How can a law of the Spanish Indies be traced back to its original decree?"
  ],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "c1",
      "text": "The first edition was printed at Madrid by Julián de Paredes in 1681, by order of Charles II, and its title pages state that it is \"dividida en quatro tomos, con el Indice general, y al principio de cada Tomo el Indice especial de los titulos, que contiene\".",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1681-t1",
        "recopilacion-indias-1681-t4"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.95
    },
    {
      "id": "c2",
      "text": "The royal cédula bound into the first volume, dated at San Lorenzo on 1 November 1681 and countersigned by D. Francisco Fernández de Madrigal, describes the compilation as one that \"por mandado de los señores Reyes mis gloriosos Progenitores se havia començado, y continuado hasta este tiempo, en que por la gracia de Dios se ha acabado\" — a project inherited across reigns rather than the work of one — and licenses any printer of the kingdoms to print it on the Council of the Indies' account, under penalty of five hundred ducats and forfeiture of the books for printing or selling it without licence.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1681-t1"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.9
    },
    {
      "id": "c3",
      "text": "The compilation runs to nine books. Libro I opens with the Catholic faith and runs through hospitals (título 4) and \"Vniversidades, y Estudios generales, y particulares\" (título 22); libro IV covers discoveries, pacifications and the founding of cities and towns; libro VI, \"De los Indios\", has nineteen títulos including the liberty of the Indians, the reducciones, tributes, the protectores, the caciques, the encomiendas and the good treatment of the Indians; and the errata leaf of the 1681 fourth volume corrects laws as far as título 45 of libro 9.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1681-t1",
        "recopilacion-indias-1681-t4",
        "recopilacion-indias-1791-t2"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.85
    },
    {
      "id": "c4",
      "text": "Each law is printed with its provenance in the margin — the monarch, the place and the date of the order it consolidates, for example \"D. Felipe II en Madrid á 10 de Enero de 1589\", \"El Emperador D. Cárlos Ordenanza 8. de 1523\", \"D. Felipe II Ordenanza 29. de Poblaciones\". The Recopilación is therefore a citation apparatus as well as a code: any provision in it can be carried back to the cédula or ordinance it came from.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1791-t2"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.9
    },
    {
      "id": "c5",
      "text": "It remained the operative law for well over a century. A fourth impression was made at Madrid in 1791 by the widow of Joaquín Ibarra, printer to the Real y Supremo Consejo de las Indias, \"hecha de órden\" of that Council, redistributed into three volumes instead of four.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1791-t2"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.9
    },
    {
      "id": "c6",
      "text": "The título on the good treatment of the Indians, libro VI título 10, opens not with a royal order but with the clause of Isabel the Catholic's testament, printed as ley j, in which the queen asks that the Indians receive no wrong in their persons or goods, that they be well and justly treated, and that any wrong already received be remedied.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1791-t2"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.85
    },
    {
      "id": "c7",
      "text": "Read honestly, the same apparatus that documents the protective legislation also measures its failure. The prohibition of the word \"conquista\" carries Philip II, then Philip IV in 1621, then Charles II; the 1623 law on the protectores records \"grande exceso\" by the very officials salaried to defend the Indians. A code that has to restate a protection three times over a century is recording non-compliance, and the compilation should be cited for both halves of that.",
      "sources": [
        "recopilacion-indias-1791-t2"
      ],
      "confidence": 0.8
    }
  ],
  "takeaways": [],
  "faqs": [],
  "evidence_tier": "primary",
  "evidence": {
    "level": "industry_observation",
    "source_types": [
      "industry_observation"
    ]
  },
  "moat_flag": false,
  "winning_edge": "Summaries of the Recopilación circulate as a set of round numbers — nine books, so many titles, so many laws — copied from one another and traceable to no copy of the book. This object was written from two digitised copies opened page by page: the 1681 Paredes first edition, whose printing cédula and errata leaf are quoted directly, and the 1791 Ibarra fourth impression, from which the marginal provenance formulae are transcribed. That marginal apparatus is the thing worth knowing about the Recopilación and the thing no summary mentions: it is what lets a reader — or an agent — take any law of the Indies back to the decree behind it, and what makes the code evidence of its own repeated non-enforcement.",
  "confidence": 0.85,
  "last_verified": "2026-08-09",
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  "jsonld": {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "name": "Recopilación de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias",
    "description": "The code of the Spanish Indies, first printed at Madrid by Julián de Paredes in 1681 in four volumes and nine books, and still being reprinted by order of the Council of the Indies in 1791. Its distinguishing feature is the margin: every law is printed beside the monarch, place and date of the order it consolidates, which makes the compilation an audit trail of its own empire — including of the provisions that had to be issued over and over.",
    "url": "https://hispanic-legacy.com/k/recopilacion-de-leyes-de-indias",
    "license": "https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-4.0.html",
    "dateModified": "2026-08-09",
    "citation": [
      {
        "@type": "CreativeWork",
        "name": "Recopilación de leyes de los reynos de las Indias, mandadas imprimir y publicar por la Magestad Católica del Rey Don Carlos II — Tomo Primero",
        "url": "https://books.google.com/books?id=xekM1Eud-40C&pg=PP7"
      },
      {
        "@type": "CreativeWork",
        "name": "Recopilación de leyes de los reynos de las Indias, con el Indice general — Tomo Quarto",
        "url": "https://books.google.com/books?id=e1MkyoifPkMC&pg=PP5"
      },
      {
        "@type": "CreativeWork",
        "name": "Recopilación de leyes de los reynos de las Indias … Quarta impresión — Tomo Segundo (Libros IIII a VIII)",
        "url": "https://books.google.com/books?id=Lt41mzCz8zEC&pg=PP5"
      }
    ],
    "@type": "Article",
    "headline": "Recopilación de Leyes de los Reynos de las Indias"
  }
}