The king of Spain acknowledges “a lot of abuse” during the conquest of America

March 16, 2026 Karsyn Larsen News 0

MADRID, Spain.- The king Philip VI assured this Monday in Madrid that there was “a lot of abuse” in the conquest of America and assured that when some facts are studied and known with the criteria and values ​​of today, “obviously They can’t make us proud“, although he indicated that they should put in its proper context.

The king made these statements during an unofficial visit to the exhibition ‘Women in indigenous Mexico’which is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum until next March 22 along with the ambassador of Mexico, Quirino Ordaz Coppelwhich were published on social networks by the Royal House.

During the tour of the exhibition, the monarch nevertheless considered that these facts must be known “in their proper context, not with excessive moral presentismbut with an objective and rigorous analysis.”

And so, “draw lessons, because there have also been struggles, let’s say, moral and ethical controversies regarding how power is exercised from day one,” the monarch stressed.
“That is, the Catholic Monarchs themselves, Queen Elizabeth, with their guidelines, the Laws of the Indies, the entire legislative process, there is a desire for protection that then reality causes it to not be fulfilled as intended and there is a lot of abuse (…) And also, as I said before, value the fact that from there, from that knowledge, we will appreciate ourselves more,” indicated the king.

King Felipe VI visits the Mexican exhibition

This exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of Culture of the Government of Mexicoin collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of Spainhe Cervantes Institute and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), delves into the social context of indigenous women since pre-Hispanic times.

In conversation with the ambassador, the monarch highlighted the importance of bringing this exhibition to Spain, a testimony of ancient Mexico“of the cultures that are what Mexico is today. Because it is a product of all of them, even the encounter with Spaniards.”

He added that these exhibitions demonstrate how civilizations have encountered their moments of struggle, conflict and controversy, in addition to highlighting the need for youth on both sides of the Atlantic to know the weight of ancient knowledge “to appreciate themselves,” since “at the end of the day, that mestizo culture that was born there, in America, is what defines us today.”

Greatness of indigenous peoples and shared history

For his part, the Mexican ambassador highlighted the greatness of the native peoples and the shared history of both peoples.

Also accompanied by director of the AECID, Anton Leis; by the professor of Anthropology at the Complutense University, Andrew Cityand the director of the National Archaeological Museum (MAN), Isabel IzquierdoFelipe VI learned about the protagonism of women of the time through objects ranging from the couple of warriors from Tehuacán, the priestess of Palenque or a Mayan censer holder, among other pieces.

This sample is part of a Spain and Mexico project that wants to strengthen the links between both countries through the recognition of the historical importance of native cultures.

Some links that the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardowhen he considered the presence of the kings of Spain in it Mexican pavilion in the International Tourism Fair (Fitur), which in his opinion showed that “they are with the native peoples.”

However, the Mexican president insisted on the importance that in her opinion would be the recognition of the consequences that the conquest had for the native peoples by Spain, a historical era that was “very violent.”

Before, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albareshad already stated that throughout the history shared between both nations “there has been pain and injustice” towards the indigenous Mexican peoples and that it is “fair to recognize and regret it.”

AMLO asked the king of Spain to apologize

Mexico had requested to king of Spain to ask for forgiveness for these events through a letter from the then president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) which was never answered, which is why Claudia Sheinbaum did not invite the monarch to her inauguration in October 2024, while the Spanish Government decided not to send any representative as a sign of protest.

You might also be interested: “Claudia Sheinbaum supports AMLO in his call to support Cuba; this is what she said”



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