La trata de esclavos en Cartagena de Indias en el siglo XVII: de los negocios privados a la corrupción de la autoridad

Cartagena de Indias was one of the legal hubs of the slave trade alongside Veracruz and Portobelo. The slave trafficking business was controlled by the Portuguese, who held colonies in Africa. Following the union of the two crowns under Philip II in 1580, Portuguese presence in American ports greatly increased. After Portugal’s secession in 1640, the Portuguese-controlled private slave trade business, which had led to numerous abuses, collapsed. Facing an urgent need to supply slaves, Governor José Daza took charge of importing slaves from Jamaica and Curaçao in 1674. However, rather than reducing the corruption of private entrepreneurs, he elevated it to new heights. Thus, what appeared to be a solution to corruption ultimately became its greatest detriment, leading to ruin in 1697 when the enemies arrived.