# Romanus Pontifex (8 January 1455) *Romanus Pontifex* ("The Roman Pontiff") is a papal bull issued by Pope Nicholas V, addressed to King Alfonso V of Portugal and to his uncle, the Infante Henry (Prince Henry the Navigator). It granted the Portuguese crown a perpetual monopoly over exploration, trade, and conquest along the West African coast — from Capes Bojador and Não "as far as through all Guinea, and beyond toward that southern shore" — and confirmed and extended the earlier bull *Dum Diversas* (1452), reciting verbatim its grant of "free and ample faculty" to "invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ wheresoever placed ... and to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery." Together with *Dum Diversas* (1452) and *Inter Caetera* (1493), it forms a cornerstone of what became known as the "Doctrine of Discovery," the legal-theological framework later used to justify European colonization and enslavement of the non-Christian world. A note on the date: papal bulls of this era were dated by the Florentine (Annunciation) reckoning, in which the year began on 25 March. The bull's own dating clause therefore reads "in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand four hundred and fifty-four" (*millessimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimo quarto*), "the sixth of the ides of January" — which, by modern reckoning, is **8 January 1455**. Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/European_Treaties_bearing_on_the_History_of_the_United_States_and_its_Dependencies_to_1648/Document_01 Both the Latin original (pp. 13–20) and the English translation (pp. 20–26) below are reproduced from *European Treaties bearing on the History of the United States and its Dependencies to 1648*, Frances Gardiner Davenport, editor, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1917, Washington, D.C. The Latin text is from the original manuscript of the promulgated bull preserved in the National Archives at Lisbon (Coll. de Bullas, maço 7, no. 29). As a work published in 1917, the entire volume — text and translation alike — is in the public domain. Davenport's editorial footnotes are not part of the bull and are omitted here; the original spelling and orthography of both texts are preserved verbatim. --- ## Latin (original) ### ROMANUS PONTIFEX ### January 8, 1455 Nicolaus episcopus, servus servorum Dei. Ad perpetuam rei memoriam. Romanus pontifex, regni celestis clavigeri successor et vicarius Jhesu Christi, cuncta mundi climata omniumque nationum in illis degentium qualitates paterna consideratione discutiens, ac salutem querens et appetens singulorum, illa propensa deliberatione salubriter ordinat et disponit que grata Divine Majestati fore conspicit et per que oves sibi divinitus creditas ad unicum ovile dominicum reducat, et acquirat eis felicitatis eterne premium, ac veniam impetret animabus; que eo certius auctore Domino provenire credimus, si condignis favoribus et specialibus gratiis eos Catholicos prosequamur reges et principes, quos, veluti Christiane fidei athletas et intrepidos pugiles, non modo Saracenorum ceterorumque infidelium Christiani nominis inimicorum feritatem reprimere, sed etiam ipsos eorumque regna ac loca, etiam in longissimis nobisque incognitis partibus consistentia, pro defensione et augmento fidei hujusmodi debellare, suoque temporali dominio subdere, nullis parcendo laboribus et expensis facti evidentia cognoscimus, ut reges et principes ipsi, sublatis quibusvis dispendiis, ad tam saluberrimum tamque laudabile prosequendum opus peramplius animentur. Ad nostrum siquidem nuper, non sine ingenti gaudio et nostre mentis letitia, pervenit auditum, quod dilectus filius nobilis vir, Henricus, infans Portugalie, carissimi in Christo filii nostri Alfonsi Portugalie et Algarbii regnorum regis illustris patruus, inherens vestigiis clare memorie Johannis, dictorum regnorum regis, ejus genitoris, ac zelo salutis animarum et fidei ardore plurimum succensus, tanquam Catholicus et verus omnium Creatoris Christi miles, ipsiusque fidei acerrimus ac fortissimus defensor et intrepidus pugil, ejusdem Creatoris gloriosissimum nomen per universum terrarum orbem etiam in remotissimis et incognitis locis divulgari, extolli, et venerari, nec non illius ac vivifice qua redempti sumus Crucis inimicos perfidos, Sarracenos videlicet ac quoscunque alios infideles, ad ipsius fidei gremium reduci, ab ejus ineunte etate totis aspirans viribus post Ceptensem civitatem, in Affrica consistentem, per dictum Johannem Regem ejus subactam dominio, et post multa per ipsum infantem nomine tamen dicti regis contra hostes et infideles predictos, quandoque etiam in propria persona, non absque maximis laboribus et expensis, ac rerum et personarum periculis et jactura, plurimorumque naturalium suorum cede, gesta bella, ex tot tantisque laboribus, periculis, et damnis non fractus nec territus, sed ad hujusmodi laudabilis et pii propositi sui prosecutionem in dies magis atque magis exardescens, in occeano mari quasdam solitarias insulas fidelibus populavit, ac fundari et construi inibi fecit ecclesias et alia loca pia, in quibus divina celebrantur officia. Ex dicti quoque infantis laudabili opera et industria, quamplures diversarum in dicto mari existentium insularum incole seu habitatores ad veri Dei cognitionem venientes, sacrum baptisma susceperunt ad ipsius Dei laudem et gloriam, ac plurimorum animarum salutem, orthodoxe quoque fidei propagationem, et divini cultus augmentum. Preterea cum olim ad ipsius infantis pervenisset notitiam, quod nunquam vel saltem a memoria hominum non consuevisset per hujusmodi occeanum mare versus meridionales et orietitales plagas navigari, illudque nobis occiduis adeo foret incognitum, ut nullam de partium illarum gentibus certam notitiam haberemus, credens se maximum in hoc Deo prestare obsequium, si ejus opera et industria mare ipsum usque ad Indos qui Christi nomen colere dicuntur, navigabile fieret, sicque cum eis participare, et illos in Christianorum auxilium adversus Sarracenos et alios hujusmodi fidei hostes commovere posset, ac nonnullos gentiles seu paganos nefandissimi Machometi secta minime infectos populos inibi medio existentes continuo debellare, eisque incognitum sacratissimum Christi nomen predicare ac facere predicari, regia tamen semper auctoritate munitus, a viginti quinque annis, citra exercitum ex dictorum regnorum gentibus, maximis cum laboribus, periculis, et expensis in velocissimis navibus, caravelis nuncupatis, ad perquirendum mare et provincias maritimas versus meridionales partes et polum antarticum, annis singulis fere mittere non cessavit; sicque factum est, ut cum naves hujusmodi quamplures portus, insulas, et maria perlustrassent, et occupassent, ad Guineam provinciam tandem pervenirent, occupatisque nonnullis insulis, portibus, ac mari eidem provincie adjacentibus, ulterius navigantes ad hostium cujusdam magni fluminis Nili communiter reputati pervenirent, et contra illarum partium populos nomine ipsorum Alfonsi Regis et infantis, per aliquos annos guerra habita extitit, et in illa quamplures inibi vicine insule debellate ac pacifice possesse fuerunt, prout adhuc cum adjacenti mari possidentur. Ex inde quoque multi Guinei et alii nigri vi capti, quidam etiam non prohibitarum rerum permutatione, seu alio legitimo contractu emptionis ad dicta sunt regna transmissi; quorum inibi in copioso numero ad Catholicam fidem conversi extiterunt, speraturque, divina favente clementia, quod si hujusmodi cum eis continuetur progressus, vel populi ipsi ad fidem convertentur, vel saltem multorum ex eis anime Christo lucrifient. Cum autem sicut accepimus, licet rex et infans prefati, qui cum tot tantisque periculis, laboribus, et expensis, nec non perditione tot naturalium regnorum hujusmodi, quorum inibi quamplures perierunt, ipsorum naturalium duntaxat freti auxilio provincias illas perlustrari fecerunt ac portus, insulas, et maria hujusmodi acquisiverunt et possederunt, ut prefertur, ut illorum veri domini, timentes ne aliqui cupiditate ducti, ad partes illas navigarent, et operis hujusmodi perfectionem, fructum, et laudem sibi usurpare vel saltem impedire cupientes, propterea seu lucri commodo, aut malitia, ferrum, arma, ligamina, aliasque res et bona ad infideles deferri prohibita portarent, vel transmitterent, aut ipsos infideles navigandi modum edocerent, propter que eis hostes fortiores ac duriores fierent, et hujusmodi prosecutio vel impediretur, vel forsan penitus cessaret, non absque Dei magna offensa et ingenti totius Christianitatis obprobrio, ad obviandum premissis ac pro suorum juris et possessionis conservatione, sub certis tunc expressis gravissimis penis prohibuerint et generaliter statuerint quod nullus, nisi cum suis nautis et navibus et certi tributi solutione obtentaque prius desuper expressa ab eodem rege vel infante licentia, ad dictas provincias navigare aut in earum portibus contractare seu in mari piscari presumeret; tamen successu temporis evenire posset, quod aliorum regnorum seu nationum persone, invidia, malitia, aut cupiditate ducti, contra prohibitionem predictam, absque licentia et tributi solutione hujusmodi, ad dictas provincias accedere, et in sic acquisitis provinciis, portibus, insulis, ac mari, navigare, contractare, et piscari presumerent, et exinde inter Alfonsum Regem ac infantem, qui nullatenus se in hiis sic deludi paterentur, et presumentes predictos quamplura odia, rancores, dissensiones, guerre, et scandala in maximam Dei offensam et animarum periculum verisimiliter subsequi possent et subsequerentur--Nos, premissa omnia et singula debita meditatione pensantes, ac attendentes quod cum olim prefato Alfonso Regi quoscunque Sarracenos et paganos aliosque Christi inimicos ubicunque constitutos, ac regna, ducatus, principatus, dominia, possessiones, et mobilia ac immobilia bona quecunque per eos detenta ac possessa invadendi, conquirendi, expugnandi, debellandi, et subjugandi, illorumque personas in perpetuam servitutem redigendi, ac regna, ducatus, comitatus, principatus, dominia, possessiones, et bona sibi et successoribus suis applicandi, appropriandi, ac in suos successorumque suorum usus et utilitatem convertendi, aliis nostris litteris plenam et liberam inter cetera concesserimus facultatem, dicte facultatis obtentu idem Atfonsus Rex, seu ejus auctoritate predictus infans, juste et legitime insulas, terras, portus, et maria hujusmodi acquisivit ac possedit et possidet, illaque ad eundem Alfonsum Regem et ipsius successores de jure spectant et pertinent, nec quisvis alius etiam Christifidelis absque ipsorum Alfonsi Regis et successorum suorum licentia speciali de illis se hactenus intromittere licite potuit nec potest quoquomodo, ut ipsi Alfonsus Rex ejusque successores et infans eo ferventius huic tam piissimo ac preclaro et omni evo memoratu dignissimo operi, in quo cum in illo animarum salus, fidei augmentum, et illius hostium depressio procurentur, Dei ipsiusque fidei ac reipublice, universalis ecclesie rem agi conspicimus, insistere valeant et insistant, quo, sublatis quibusvis dispendiis amplioribus, se per nos et Sedem Apostolicam favoribus ac gratiis munitos fore conspexerint, de premissis omnibus et singulis plenissime informati, motu proprio, non ad ipsorum Alfonsi Regis et infantis vel alterius pro eis nobis super hoc oblate petitionis instantiam, maturaque prius desuper deliberatione prehabita, auctoritate apostolica et ex certa scientia, de apostolice potestatis plenitudine, litteras facultatis prefatas, quarum tenores de verbo ad verbum presentibus haberi volumus pro insertis, cum omnibus et singulis in eis contentis clausulis, ad Ceptensem et predicta ac quecunque alia etiam ante data dictarum facultatis litterarum acquisita, et ad ea, que imposterum nomine dictorum Alfonsi regis suorumque successorum et infantis, in ipsis ac illis circumvicinis et ulterioribus ac remotioribus partibus, de infidelium seu paganorum manibus acquiri poterunt provincias, insulas, portus, et maria quecunque extendi et illa sub eisdem facultatis litteris comprehendi, Ipsarumque facultatis et presentium litterarum vigore jam acquisita et que in futurum acquiri contigerit, postquam acquisita fuerint, ad prefatos regem et successores suos ac infantem, ipsamque conquestam quam a capitibus de Bojador et de Nam usque per totam Guineam et ultra versus illam meridionalem plagam extendi harum serie declaramus etiam ad ipsos Alfonsum Regem et successores suos ac infantem et non ad aliquos alios spectasse et pertinuisse ac imperpetuum spectare et pertinere de jure, Necnon Alfonsum Regem et successores suos ac infantem predictos in illis et circa ea quecunque prohibitiones, statuta, et mandata, etiam penalia, et cum cujusvis tributi impositione facere, ac de ipsis ut de rebus propriis et aliis ipsorum dominiis disponere et ordinare potuisse ac nunc et in futurum posse libere ac licite tenore presentium decernimus et declaramus. Ac pro potioris juris et cautele suffragio, jam acquisita et que imposterum acquiri contigerit, provincias, insulas, portus, loca, et mana, quecunque, quotcunque, et qualiacunque fuerint, ipsamque conquestam a capitibus de Bojador et de Nom predictis Alfonso Regi et successoribus suis, regibus dictorum regnorum, ac infanti prefatis, perpetuo donamus, concedimus, et appropriamus per presentes. Preterea cum id ad perficiendum opus hujusmodi multipliciter sit oportunum [concedimus] quod Alfonsus Rex et successores ac infans predicti, nec non persone quibus hoc duxerint, seu aliquis eorum duxerit committendum, illius dicto Johanni Regi per felicis recordationis Martinum V., et alterius indultorum etiam inclite memorie Eduardo eorumdem regnorum regi, ejusdem Alfonsi Regis genitori, per pie memorie Eugenium IV., Romanos pontifices, predecessores nostros, concessorum versus dictas partes cum quibusvis Sarracenis et infidelibus, de quibuscunque rebus et bonis ac victualibus, emptiones et venditiones prout congruerit facere, nec non quoscunque contractus inire, transigere, pacisci, mercari, ac negociari, et merces quascunque ad ipsorum Sarracenorum et infidelium loca, dummodo ferramenta, ligamina, funes, naves, seu armaturarum genera non sint, deferre, et ea dictis Sarracenis et infidelibus vendere, omnia quoque alia et singula in premissis et circa ea oportuna vel necessaria facere, gerere, vel exercere: ipsique Alfonsus Rex, successores, et infans in jam acquisitis et per eum acquirendis provinciis, insulis, ac locis, quascunque ecclesias, monasteria, et alia pia loca fundare ac fundari et construi [curare], nec non quascunque voluntarias personas ecclesiasticas, seculares, quorumvis etiam mendicantium ordinum regulares, de superiorum tamen suorum licentia, ad illa transmittere, ipseque persone inibi etiam quoad vixerint commorari, ac quorumcunque in dictis partibus existentium vel accedentium confessiones audire, illisque auditis in omnibus preterquam sedi predicte reservatis, casibus, debitam absolutionem impendere, ac penitentiam salutarem injungere, nec non ecclesiastica sacramenta ministrare valeant libere ac licite decernimus, ipsique Alfonso et successoribus suis Regibus Portugalie, qui erunt imposterum et infanti prefato concedimus et indulgemus; ac universos et singulos Christi fideles ecclesiasticos, seculares, et ordinum quorumcunque regulares, ubilibet per orbem constitutos, cujuscunque status, gradus, ordinis, conditionis, vel preeminentie fuerint, etiamsi archiepiscopali, episcopali, imperiali, regali, reginali, ducali, seu alia quacunque majori ecclesiastica vel mundana dignitate prefulgeant, obsecramus in Domino et per aspersionem sanguinis Domini nostri Jhesu Christi, cujus ut premittitur res agitur, exhortamur, eisque in remissionem suorum peccaminum injungimus, nec non hoc perpetuo prohibitionis edicto districtius inhibemus, ne ad acquisita seu possessa nomine Alfonsi Regis aut in conquesta hujusmodi consistentia provincias, insulas, portus, maria, et loca quecunque seu alias ipsis Sarracenis, infidelibus, vel paganis arma, ferrum, ligamina, aliaque a jure Sarracenis deferri prohibita quoquomodo, vel etiam absque spetiali ipsius Alfonsi Regis et successorum suorum et infantis licentia, merces et alia a jure permissa deferre, aut per maria hujusmodi navigare, seu deferri vel navigari facere, aut in illis piscari, seu de provinciis, insulis, portibus, maribus, et locis, seu aliquibus eorum, aut de conquesta hujusmodi se intromittere, vel aliquid per quod Alfonsus Rex et successores sui et infans predicti quo minus acquisita et possessa pacifice possideant, ac conquestam hujusmodi prosequantur et faciant, per se vel alium seu alios, directe vel indirecte, opere vel consilio, facere, aut impedire quoquo modo presumant. Qui vero contrarium fecerint, ultra penas contra deferentes arma et alia prohibita Sarracenis quibuscunque a jure promulgatas, quas illos incurrere volumus ipso facto, si persone fuerint, singulares excommunicationis sententiam incurrant, si communitas vel universitas civitatis, castri, ville, seu loci, ipsa civitas, castrum, villa, seu locus interdicto subjaceant eo ipso; nec contrafacientes ipsi vel aliqui eorum ab excommunicationis sententia absolvantur, nec interdicti hujusmodi relaxationem, apostolica vel alia quavis auctoritate obtinere possint, nisi ipsis Alfonso et successoribus suis ac infanti prius pro premissis congrue satisfecerint, aut desuper amicabiliter concordaverint cum eisdem. Mandantes per apostolica scripta venerabilibus fratribus nostris Archiepiscopo Ulixbonensi et Silvensi ac Ceptensi Episcopis, quatenus ipsi vel duo aut unus eorum, per se vel alium seu alios, quotiens pro parte Alfonsi Regis et illius successorum ac infantis predictorum vel alicujus eorum desuper fuerint requisiti, vel aliquis ipsorum fuerit requisitus, illos quos excommunicationis et interdicti sententias hujusmodi incurrisse constiterit, tamdiu dominicis aliisque festivis diebus in ecclesiis, dum inibi major populi multitudo convenerit ad divina, excommunicatos et interdictos aliisque penis predictis innodatos fuisse et esse, auctoritate apostolica declarent et denuntient; nec non ab aliis nuntiari et ab omnibus arctius evitari faciant, donec pro premissis satisfecerint seu concordaverint, ut prefertur; contradictores per censuram ecclesiasticam, appellatione postposita, compescendo, non obstantibus constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis ceterisque contrariis quibuscunque. Ceterum, ne presentes littere, que a nobis de nostra certa scientia et matura desuper deliberatione prebabita emanarunt, ut prefertur, de surreptionis vel obreptionis aut nullitatis vitio a quoquam imposterum valeant impugnari, volumus, et auctoritate, scientia, ac potestate predictis, harum serie decernimus pariter et declaramus, quod dicte littere et in eis contenta de surreptionis, obreptionis, vel nullitatis, etiam ex ordinarie vel alterius cujuscunque potestatis, aut quovis alio defectu, impugnari, illarumque effectus retardari vel impediri nullatenus possint, sed imperpetuum valeant, ac plenam obtineant roboris firmitatem; irritum quoque sit et inane si secus super hiis a quoquam quavis auctoritate, scienter vel ignoranter, contigerit attemptari. Et insuper, quia dificile foret presentes nostras litteras ad quecunque loca deferre, volumus, et dicta auctoritate harum serie decernimus, quod earum transumpto, manu publica et sigillo episcopalis vel alicujus superioris ecclesiastice curie munito, plena fides adhibeatur et perinde stetur, ac si dicte originales littere forent exhibite vel ostense; et excommunicationis alieque sententie in illis contente infra duos menses, computandos a die qua ipse presentes littere seu carte vel membrane earum tenorem in se continentes valvis ecclesie Ulixbonensi affixe fuerint, perinde omnes et singulos contra facientes supradictos ligent, ac si ipse presentes littere eis personaliter et legitime intimate ac presentate fuissent. Nulli ergo omnino hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre declarationis, constitutionis, donationis, concessionis, appropriationis, decreti, obsecrationis, exhortationis, injunctionis, inhibitionis, mandati, et voluntatis infringere, vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare presumpserit, indignationem Omnipotentis Dei et beatorum Petri et Pauli apostolorum ejus se noverit incursurum. Datum Rome apud Sanctum Petrum, anno Incarnationis Dominice millessimo quadringentesimo quinquagesimo quarto, sexto idus Januarii, pontificatus nostri anno octavo. PE. DE NOXETO. --- ## English translation — Frances Gardiner Davenport (1917), Public Domain Nicholas, bishop, servant of the servants of God. For a perpetual remembrance. The Roman Pontiff, successor of the key-bearer of the heavenly kingdom and Vicar of Jesus Christ, contemplating with a father's mind all the several climes of the world and the characteristics of all the nations dwelling in them and seeking and desiring the salvation of all, wholesomely ordains and disposes upon careful deliberation those things which he sees will be agreeable to the Divine Majesty and by which he may bring the sheep entrusted to him by God into the single divine fold, and may acquire for them the reward of eternal felicity, and obtain pardon for their souls. This we believe will more certainly come to pass, through the aid of the Lord, if we bestow suitable favors and special graces on those Catholic kings and princes, who, like athletes and intrepid champions of the Christian faith, as we know by the evidence of facts, not only restrain the savage excesses of the Saracens and of other infidels, enemies of the Christian name, but also for the defense and increase of the faith vanquish them and their kingdoms and habitations, though situated in the remotest parts unknown to us, and subject them to their own temporal dominion, sparing no labor and expense, in order that those kings and princes, relieved of all obstacles, may be the more animated to the prosecution of so salutary and laudable a work. We have lately heard, not without great joy and gratification, how our beloved son, the noble personage Henry, infante of Portugal, uncle of our most dear son in Christ, the illustrious Alfonso, king of the kingdoms of Portugal and Algarve, treading in the footsteps of John, of famous memory, king of the said kingdoms, his father, and greatly inflamed with zeal for the salvation of souls and with fervor of faith, as a Catholic and true soldier of Christ, the Creator of all things, and a most active and courageous defender and intrepid champion of the faith in Him, has aspired from his early youth with his utmost might to cause the most glorious name of the said Creator to be published, extolled, and revered throughout the whole world, even in the most remote and undiscovered places, and also to bring into the bosom of his faith the perfidious enemies of him and of the life-giving Cross by which we have been redeemed, namely the Saracens and all other infidels whatsoever, [and how] after the city of Ceuta, situated in Africa, had been subdued by the said King John to his dominion, and after many wars had been waged, sometimes in person, by the said infante, although in the name of the said King John, against the enemies and infidels aforesaid, not without the greatest labors and expense, and with dangers and loss of life and property, and the slaughter of very many of their natural subjects, the said infante being neither enfeebled nor terrified by so many and great labors, dangers, and losses, but growing daily more and more zealous in prosecuting this his so laudable and pious purpose, has peopled with orthodox Christians certain solitary islands in the ocean sea; and has caused churches and other pious places to be there founded and built, in which divine service is celebrated. Also by the laudable endeavor and industry of the said infante, very many inhabitants or dwellers in divers islands situated in the said sea, coming to the knowledge of the true God, have received holy baptism, to the praise and glory of God, the salvation of the souls of many, the propagation also of the orthodox faith, and the increase of divine worship. Moreover, since, some time ago, it had come to the knowledge of the said infante that never, or at least not within the memory of men, had it been customary to sail on this ocean sea toward the southern and eastern shores, and that it was so unknown to us westerners that we had no certain knowledge of the peoples of those parts, believing that he would best perform his duty to God in this matter, if by his effort and industry that sea might become navigable as far as to the Indians who are said to worship the name of Christ, and that thus he might be able to enter into relation with them, and to incite them to aid the Christians against the Saracens and other such enemies of the faith, and might also be able forthwith to subdue certain gentile or pagan peoples, living between, who are entirely free from infection by the sect of the most impious Mahomet, and to preach and cause to be preached to them the unknown but most sacred name of Christ, strengthened, however, always by the royal authority, he has not ceased for twenty-five years past to send almost yearly an army of the peoples of the said kingdoms, with the greatest labor, danger, and expense, in very swift ships called caravels, to explore the sea and coast lands toward the south and the Antarctic pole. And so it came to pass that when a number of ships of this kind had explored and taken possession of very many harbors, islands, and seas, they at length came to the province of Guinea, and having taken possession of some islands and harbors and the sea adjacent to that province, sailing farther they came to the mouth of a certain great river commonly supposed to be the Nile, and war was waged for some years against the peoples of those parts in the name of the said King Alfonso and of the infante, and in it very many islands in that neighborhood were subdued and peacefully possessed, as they are still possessed together with the adjacent sea. Thence also many Guineamen and other negroes, taken by force, and some by barter of unprohibited articles, or by other lawful contract of purchase, have been sent to the said kingdoms. A large number of these have been converted to the Catholic faith, and it is hoped, by the help of divine mercy, that if such progress be continued with them, either those peoples will be converted to the faith or at least the souls of many of them will be gained for Christ. But since, as we are informed, although the king and infante aforesaid (who with so many and so great dangers, labors, and expenses, and also with loss of so many natives of their said kingdoms, very many of whom have perished in those expeditions, depending only upon the aid of those natives, have caused those provinces to be explored and have acquired and possessed such harbors, islands, and seas, as aforesaid, as the true lords of them), fearing lest strangers induced by covetousness should sail to those parts, and desiring to usurp to themselves the perfection, fruit, and praise of this work, or at least to hinder it, should therefore, either for the sake of gain or through malice, carry or transmit iron, arms, wood used for construction, and other things and goods prohibited to be carried to infidels, or should teach those infidels the art of navigation, whereby they would become more powerful and obstinate enemies to the king and infante, and the prosecution of this enterprise would either be hindered, or would perhaps entirely fail, not without great offense to God and great reproach to all Christianity, to prevent this and to conserve their right and possession, [the said king and infante] under certain most severe penalties then expressed, have prohibited and in general have ordained that none, unless with their sailors and ships and on payment of a certain tribute and with an express license previously obtained from the said king or infante, should presume to sail to the said provinces or to trade in their ports or to fish in the sea, [although the king and infante have taken this action, yet] in time it might happen that persons of other kingdoms or nations, led by envy, malice, or covetousness, might presume, contrary to the prohibition aforesaid, without license and payment of such tribute, to go to the said provinces, and in the provinces, harbors, islands, and sea, so acquired, to sail, trade, and fish; and thereupon between King Alfonso and the infante, who would by no means suffer themselves to be so trifled with in these things, and the presumptuous persons aforesaid, very many hatreds, rancors, dissensions, wars, and scandals, to the highest offense of God and danger of souls, probably might and would ensue--We [therefore] weighing all and singular the premises with due meditation, and noting that since we had formerly by other letters of ours granted among other things free and ample faculty to the aforesaid King Alfonso--to invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ wheresoever placed, and the kingdoms, dukedoms, principalities, dominions, possessions, and all movable and immovable goods whatsoever held and possessed by them and to reduce their persons to perpetual slavery, and to apply and appropriate to himself and his successors the kingdoms, dukedoms, counties, principalities, dominions, possessions, and goods, and to convert them to his and their use and profit--by having secured the said faculty, the said King Alfonso, or, by his authority, the aforesaid infante, justly and lawfully has acquired and possessed, and doth possess, these islands, lands, harbors, and seas, and they do of right belong and pertain to the said King Alfonso and his successors, nor without special license from King Alfonso and his successors themselves has any other even of the faithful of Christ been entitled hitherto, nor is he by any means now entitled lawfully to meddle therewith--in order that King Alfonso himself and his successors and the infante may be able the more zealously to pursue and may pursue this most pious and noble work, and most worthy of perpetual remembrance (which, since the salvation of souls, increase of the faith, and overthrow of its enemies may be procured thereby, we regard as a work wherein the glory of God, and faith in Him, and His commonwealth, the Universal Church, are concerned) in proportion as they, having been relieved of all the greater obstacles, shall find themselves supported by us and by the Apostolic See with favors and graces--we, being very fully informed of all and singular the premises, do, motu proprio, not at the instance of King Alfonso or the infante, or on the petition of any other offered to us on their behalf in respect to this matter, and after mature deliberation, by apostolic authority, and from certain knowledge, in the fullness of apostolic power, by the tenor of these presents decree and declare that the aforesaid letters of faculty (the tenor whereof we wish to be considered as inserted word for word in these presents, with all and singular the clauses therein contained) are extended to Ceuta and to the aforesaid and all other acquisitions whatsoever, even those acquired before the date of the said letters of faculty, and to all those provinces, islands, harbors, and seas whatsoever, which hereafter, in the name of the said King Alfonso and of his successors and of the infante, in those parts and the adjoining, and in the more distant and remote parts, can be acquired from the hands of infidels or pagans, and that they are comprehended under the said letters of faculty. And by force of those and of the present letters of faculty the acquisitions already made, and what hereafter shall happen to be acquired, after they shall have been acquired, we do by the tenor of these presents decree and declare have pertained, and forever of right do belong and pertain, to the aforesaid king and to his successors and to the infante, and that the right of conquest which in the course of these letters we declare to be extended from the capes of Bojador and of Não, as far as through all Guinea, and beyond toward that southern shore, has belonged and pertained, and forever of right belongs and pertains, to the said King Alfonso, his successors, and the infante, and not to any others. We also by the tenor of these presents decree and declare that King Alfonso and his successors and the infante aforesaid might and may, now and henceforth, freely and lawfully, in these [acquisitions] and concerning them make any prohibitions, statutes, and decrees whatsoever, even penal ones, and with imposition of any tribute, and dispose and ordain concerning them as concerning their own property and their other dominions. And in order to confer a more effectual right and assurance we do by these presents forever give, grant, and appropriate to the aforesaid King Alfonso and his successors, kings of the said kingdoms, and to the infante, the provinces, islands, harbors, places, and seas whatsoever, how many soever, and of what sort soever they shall be, that have already been acquired and that shall hereafter come to be acquired, and the right of conquest also from the capes of Bojador and of Não aforesaid. Moreover, since this is fitting in many ways for the perfecting of a work of this kind, we allow that the aforesaid King Alfonso and [his] successors and the infante, as also the persons to whom they, or any one of them, shall think that this work ought to be committed, may (according to the grant made to the said King John by Martin V., of happy memory, and another grant made also to King Edward of illustrious memory, king of the same kingdoms, father of the said King Alfonso, by Eugenius IV., of pious memory, Roman pontiffs, our predecessors) make purchases and sales of any things and goods and victuals whatsoever, as it shall seem fit, with any Saracens and infidels, in the said regions; and also may enter into any contracts, transact business, bargain, buy and negotiate, and carry any commodities whatsoever to the places of those Saracens and infidels, provided they be not iron instruments, wood to be used for construction, cordage, ships, or any kinds of armor, and may sell them to the said Saracens and infidels; and also may do, perform, or prosecute all other and singular things [mentioned] in the premises, and things suitable or necessary in relation to these; and that the same King Alfonso, his successors, and the infante, in the provinces, islands, and places already acquired, and to be acquired by him, may found and [cause to be] founded and built any churches, monasteries, or other pious places whatsoever; and also may send over to them any ecclesiastical persons whatsoever, as volunteers, both seculars, and regulars of any of the mendicant orders (with license, however, from their superiors), and that those persons may abide there as long as they shall live, and hear confessions of all who live in the said parts or who come thither, and after the confessions have been heard they may give due absolution in all cases, except those reserved to the aforesaid see, and enjoin salutary penance, and also administer the ecclesiastical sacraments freely and lawfully, and this we allow and grant to Alfonso himself, and his successors, the kings of Portugal, who shall come afterwards, and to the aforesaid infante. Moreover, we entreat in the Lord, and by the sprinkling of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom, as has been said, it concerneth, we exhort, and as they hope for the remission of their sins enjoin, and also by this perpetual edict of prohibition we more strictly inhibit, all and singular the faithful of Christ, ecclesiastics, seculars, and regulars of whatsoever orders, in whatsoever part of the world they live, and of whatsoever state, degree, order, condition, or pre-eminence they shall be, although endued with archiepiscopal, episcopal, imperial, royal, queenly, ducal, or any other greater ecclesiastical or worldly dignity, that they do not by any means presume to carry arms, iron, wood for construction, and other things prohibited by law from being in any way carried to the Saracens, to any of the provinces, islands, harbors, seas, and places whatsoever, acquired or possessed in the name of King Alfonso, or situated in this conquest or elsewhere, to the Saracens, infidels, or pagans; or even without special license from the said King Alfonso and his successors and the infante, to carry or cause to be carried merchandise and other things permitted by law, or to navigate or cause to be navigated those seas, or to fish in them, or to meddle with the provinces, islands, harbors, seas, and places, or any of them, or with this conquest, or to do anything by themselves or another or others, directly or indirectly, by deed or counsel, or to offer any obstruction whereby the aforesaid King Alfonso and his successors and the infante may be hindered from quietly enjoying their acquisitions and possessions, and prosecuting and carrying out this conquest. And we decree that whosoever shall infringe these orders [shall incur the following penalties], besides the punishments pronounced by law against those who carry arms and other prohibited things to any of the Saracens, which we wish them to incur by so doing; if they be single persons, they shall incur the sentence of excommunication; if a community or corporation of a city, castle, village, or place, that city, castle, village, or place shall be thereby subject to the interdict; and we decree further that transgressors, collectively or individually, shall not be absolved from the sentence of excommunication, nor be able to obtain the relaxation of this interdict, by apostolic or any other authority, unless they shall first have made due satisfaction for their transgressions to Alfonso himself and his successors and to the infante, or shall have amicably agreed with them thereupon. By [these] apostolic writings we enjoin our venerable brothers, the archbishop of Lisbon, and the bishops of Silves and Ceuta, that they, or two or one of them, by himself, or another or others, as often as they or any of them shall be required on the part of the aforesaid King Alfonso and his successors and the infante or any one of them, on Sundays, and other festival days, in the churches, while a large multitude of people shall assemble there for divine worship, do declare and denounce by apostolic authority that those persons who have been proved to have incurred such sentences of excommunication and interdict, are excommunicated and interdicted, and have been and are involved in the other punishments aforesaid. And we decree that they shall also cause them to be denounced by others, and to be strictly avoided by all, till they shall have made satisfaction for or compromised their transgressions as aforesaid. Offenders are to be held in check by ecclesiastical censure, without regard to appeal, the apostolic constitutions and ordinances and all other things whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. But in order that the present letters, which have been issued by us of our certain knowledge and after mature deliberation thereupon, as is aforesaid, may not hereafter be impugned by anyone as fraudulent, secret, or void, we will, and by the authority, knowledge, and power aforementioned, we do likewise by these letters, decree and declare that the said letters and what is contained therein cannot in any wise be impugned, or the effect thereof hindered or obstructed, on account of any defect of fraudulency, secrecy, or nullity, not even from a defect of the ordinary, or of any other authority, or from any other defect, but that they shall be valid forever and shall obtain full authority. And if anyone, by whatever authority, shall, wittingly or unwittingly, attempt anything inconsistent with these orders we decree that his act shall be null and void. Moreover, because it would be difficult to carry our present letters to all places whatsoever, we will, and by the said authority we decree by these letters, that faith shall be given as fully and permanently to copies of them, certified under the hand of a notary public and the seal of the episcopal or any superior ecclesiastical court, as if the said original letters were exhibited or shown; and we decree that within two months from the day when these present letters, or the paper or parchment containing the tenor of the same, shall be affixed to the doors of the church at Lisbon, the sentences of excommunication and the other sentences contained therein shall bind all and singular offenders as fully as if these present letters had been made known and presented to them in person and lawfully. Therefore let no one infringe or with rash boldness contravene this our declaration, constitution, gift, grant, appropriation, decree, supplication, exhortation, injunction, inhibition, mandate, and will. But if anyone should presume to do so, be it known to him that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the eighth day of January, in the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand four hundred and fifty-four, and in the eighth year of our pontificate. P. DE NOXETO. --- *Provenance and licence: Both texts are reproduced verbatim from Frances Gardiner Davenport, ed., *European Treaties bearing on the History of the United States and its Dependencies to 1648* (Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1917), Document 1 — Latin original at pp. 13–20, English translation at pp. 20–26. The Latin is taken from the original manuscript of the promulgated bull in the National Archives at Lisbon (Coll. de Bullas, maço 7, no. 29). Davenport's scholarly footnotes have been omitted as editorial apparatus; the body text of the bull and its translation are unaltered, retaining the original spelling and orthography. Published in 1917, the work is in the **public domain** in the United States and worldwide. Transcription verified against the page-images and transcribed text at English Wikisource. The bull's own dating clause states the year as 1454 by the Florentine (Annunciation) reckoning, equivalent to **8 January 1455** in modern reckoning.*