ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces one of the seminal figures in the historical development of the just war tradition: Bartolome de las Casas. Bartolome de las Casas's contribution to the just war tradition must be viewed against the backdrop of the Spanish conquest of indigenous populations in the New World. The context of the Valladolid debates is important to understanding las Casas's contributions to the just war tradition. Las Casas begins a long discussion of six possible just causes by which the Spanish could wage a just war against the Indians. He frames his discussion in the context of war as a form of punishment. Las Casas shows himself open to the possibility that justice may be on the side of the Indians because the conquistadors "slander the Christian religion by their evil lives, their monstrosities, their savagery, and their pride". In sum, las Casas did not think the war against the Indians was justified.
