Tordesillas Negotiation

Treaty of tordesillas – a modern negotiation process

Introduction

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was probably one of the most important treaties of mankind, dividing the world between two of the most powerful superpowers back then, the Kingdom of Portugal and the newly formed Kingdom of Spain. Although it is more than 500 years old, it followed a very modern and tough negotiation process, between two very competent sides which used every tool at their disposal to get the best conditions possible.

Negotiators Profile

King John II of Portugal

King John II was born in a time where the Portuguese overseas expansion was in its maximum speed. While still a prince, very young in its age, he was put in charge of that particular subject. His father, King Afonso V, engaged the country in multiple wars which were very damaging in several dimensions, the wars in North Africa allowed a territorial expansion but brought little value, and the war of succession in Spain, which was eventually lost, and was nothing but a waste of men and money. In order to finance these wars, King Afonso V, had to contract loans and concede titles and land.

When King John II was crowned, he actually said in a humorous way that he inherited only the roads of the kingdom. For the first years of his reign, his main task was to restore the power of the crown. He did that in a very tenacious and courageous way, with multiple challenges, creating enemies and facing even murder conspiracies. He eventually accomplished that task brilliantly, but that could only be accomplished due to his very strong character.

After “cleaning the house”, King John began reshaping the overseas expansion process, which had as its ultimate goal to find a maritime route to India. He soon understood the importance to dominate the seas, and in a very short period of time he built the strongest naval power in the world. That navy turned out to be a very strong bargaining tool in the negotiations of the...