An encomendero is the name for a conquistador who was given an encomienda grant over a part of the Spanish conquest of South America. Many times, the land grant was already settled by indigenous people. When this happened, the encomendero was expected to care for the natives that lived there. However, most of the encomenderos greedily took advantage of the people already living there. They used their influence and power as encomenderos and land owners to seize more lands from the natives, increase taxes, and demand more for labor. Also, their presence led to more spreading of European diseases like smallpox among the natives, which thinned their population even more. This exploitation of the indigenous natives and the other negative influences of the European presence of encomenderos were some of the factors that led to the breakdown of the entire encomienda system.
Encomenderos, first off, had their pick of the Indian women, whether with husband or not.
All of the early encomenderos, writes a noted scholar, looked upon the encomienda as a license to exploit, not excluding robbing villages of their lands.
Encomenderos, therefore, were the first to buy land, when they could not steal it.
In return the encomenderos were expected to provide safety for the people through an established military and teachings in Christianity.
They used their influence and power as encomenderos and land owners to seize more lands from the natives, increase taxes, and ultimately force the natives into slavery.
The etymology of encomienda and encomendero lies in the Spanish verb encomendar, "to entrust".
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