Francisco de Vitoria was a Spanish theologian and philosopher born around 1483. He is often considered one of the founders of international law due to his ideas on the rights of indigenous peoples and the moral implications of colonization. Vitoria taught at the University of Salamanca, where he emphasized the importance of justice and human rights. His work laid the groundwork for modern concepts of sovereignty and the just war theory. Vitoria argued that all people, regardless of their background, possess inherent rights. His writings influenced later thinkers and contributed to the development of ethical standards in international relations.