Bulls of Donation
Pope Alexander VI's Bulls of Donation, a.k.a. The Alexandrine Bulls or the Papal donations of 1493, divided newly discovered and undiscovered overseas territories not already held by a Christian ruler between the rulers of Portugal and Spain.
The first two (Inter caetera and Eximiae devotionis) were dated 3 May.
The third, a revised Inter Caetera, was issued a day later. It probably stemmed from the Portuguese ambassador to the Vatican's dissatisfaction with its predecessor. Dudum siquidem (26 September 1493 ) supplemented the Inter caetera.
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) replaced all four edicts.
The first Inter caetera recognised Spain's claim to the lands Columbus had recently discovered while protecting Portugal's existing rights under the 1479 Treaty of Alcáçovas. That was too vague and needed further refinement.
Eximiae devotionis focussed on the Columbus discoveries and granted the Spanish rulers the same privileges the kings of Portugal enjoyed in the territories discovered in the quest for a sea route to India.
The revised Inter Caetera provided a more precise delineation between the Portuguese and Spanish spheres of influence by redrawing the dividing line. Under the Treaty of Alcáçovas, the dividing line ran across the Atlantic south of the Canary Islands. The new meridian ran down the Atlantic, "... one hundred leagues towards the west and south from any of the islands commonly known as the Azores and Cape Verde".
Dudum siquidem supplemented the Inter caetera, granting them "all islands and mainlands whatsoever, found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered, that are or may be or may seem to be in the route of navigation or travel towards the west or south, whether they be in western parts, or in the regions of the south and east and of India".
Links to add:
Alexander VI
Inter caetera
Eximiae devotionis
Dudum siquidem
Treaty of Alcáçovas
Canary Islands
Azores
Cape Verde
