The Codex Köler
British Library

In 1527 the Spanish ruler, Charles V, granted a German company permission to "discover, conquer, and populate" the Venezuelan coast, to enslave Indians, and import up to four thousand Negroes, to erect forts, to found two Spanish cities, to bring in horses, send out gold, and pay only minimal taxes. This illumination shows the company leaving Spain for Venezuela. Nicolaus Federmann made the journey as commander of 123 Spanish soldiers and 24 German miners.