Francisco de Vitoria

Francisco de Vitoria (c. 1483–1546) was a Dominican theologian and jurist, born in Burgos, who founded the School of Salamanca. Educated in Paris, he held Salamanca's prima chair of theology from 1524 until his death.

His posthumous Relectiones Theologicae, above all De Indis and De iure belli of 1539, argued that the American peoples were true owners of their lands and could be fought only under strict just-war conditions.

His theory of the law of nations earned him the title father of international law. He published nothing himself and died at Salamanca in 1546.