Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
encomendero
Noun
/ˌɛnkəˈmɛndɛroʊ/
Definition
A person who received the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous people in colonial Spanish America as part of the encomienda system.
Examples
- The encomendero had significant power over the native population.
- Many encomenderos were responsible for the welfare of the indigenous people under their care.
- During the colonial period, the role of the encomendero was a crucial aspect of land management.
Meaning
In colonial times, an encomendero was a landowner granted the right to control a group of native people and ensure their conversion to Christianity in exchange for their labor and tribute.
Synonyms
- Colonial landowner
- Spanish settler
- Plantation owner
