Apologie de Barthélémy de Las Casas, Evêque de Chiapas, par le citoyen Grégoire

Abstract

In 1800, Gregoire argued in defense of Bartolome de Las Casas, who had stood accused, since the 16th century, of having introduced Blacks in Spanish America in order to reduce dependence upon Inidan slavery. This slander against Bartolome was widely accepted by certain Enlightenment philosophers. In a little- known text, whose argument was a modern historical critique, the Bishop of Blois argued that the Spaniard's abolitionist struggle infavor ofBlacks was ofa piece with his role as «Defender ofthe Indians».