The Chronology of Herman L Bennett's African Kings and Black Slaves

The First Council of Nicaea

325

Defined...
DOMINIUM is the ownership and stewardship of land (like a kingdom or province) EXTRA ECCLESIAM is the term used for non-Catholics. Despite not having the privilege of salvation in heaven, the extra ecclesiam have virtually all the rights of a Christian in their own lands. Herman L. Bennett, African Kings and Black Slaves (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A: University of Philadelphia Press, 2019), 37.

Pope Innocent IV comments on the rights of the extra ecclesium

1243

"Viewing infidels (Muslims) as 'rational creatures,' Innocent deemed that they could also decide on their rulers. The pope, however, bore responsibility for the infidels' souls"... "such beliefs did not provide justification for Christians to simply invade non-Christian polities" - Herman L Bennett
"Innocent IV's commentary... had become the communis opinio of the canonists" - Henry of Segusio, former student of Innocent IV Bennett, 54-55.

The Seventh Crusade

1248

Pope Innocent IV would be one of the first Popes to make meaningful connections with non-Christian, non-Europeans. The capture and ransom of Louis IX would provide an important learning opportunity and highlight the importance of acknowledging the authority of external sovereigns. Franco Guerello, "Innocent IV", Britannica.com, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 December 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/church-and-state.

Infante Henrique sends an envoy to Cape Verde

1445

Explorer Dinís Dias, under the jurisdiction of Prince Henry the Navigator, "discovers" and names Cape Verde and has negotiations with Lord Guitanye, the ruler of the cape. Bennett, 68-69.

Nicholas V's Romanus Pontifex

1455

grants ownership of Cape Verde to Portugal, in order to prevent Portuguese-Spanish skirmishes on the West Coast of Africa. At the time of publishing, Infante Afonso's forces occupied virtually no territory on mainland Africa. Bennett, 69, 105.

Infante Afonso grants legal superiority to Portuguese Christians

1466

Along the same strand as Romanus Pontifex, Prince Afonso (Prince Henry's successor) grants European Christians legal superiority and trade monopoly over Muslims, Pagans, and Christian conversos (converts) in Cape Verde - free or captive, resident or traveler. Bennett, 121.

Queen Isabel condemns the cabalgadas

1476

Cabalgadas were Spanish chattel raids along the Guinean coast. The Romanus pontifex was written to ban them. Bennett, 123.

Joao II attempts to prevent Cabalgadas off of Cape Verde at the behest of the Mina Emperors

1481

Again, this cuts off much of the smaller coastal nobles from trade outside of Portugal. At the same time, he forges new relationships with Mina sovereigns and the former prince of Jalof. Bennett, 125.