Governorate of New Andalusia

Governorate of New Andalucía of Río de la Plata
Gobernación de Nueva Andalucía
1534–1617
Flag of New Andalucía
The adelantado grants of Charles V prior to the establishment of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The adelantado grants of Charles V prior to the establishment of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
StatusGovernorate of the Crown of Castile
CapitalAsunción
Official languagesSpanish
Religion
Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
Historical eraSpanish Empire
• Created with the name "Governorate of New Andalusia"
1534
1617
CurrencyEscudo
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Inca Empire
Guaraní people
Diaguita
Indigenous peoples in Argentina
Indigenous peoples in Paraguay
Captaincy General of Chile
Governorate of the Río de la Plata
Governorate of Paraguay

The Governorate of New Andalusia[1] was a Spanish Governorate of the Crown of Castile in South America which existed between 1534 and 1617.

History[edit]

The governorate was created as one of King Charles V's grants of 1534, establishing the adelantado Pedro de Mendoza as its first governor, captain general, and chief justice. The territory was described as extending 200 leagues down the Pacific coast from Diego de Almagro's grant of New Toledo, but was understood to involve the exploration, pacification, and settlement of the Río de la Plata along the Atlantic.

While in theory the Governorate of New Andalusia included all of present-day Uruguay and Paraguay and large segments of Chile, Argentina and Brazil, the adelantados were only able to effectively colonize the Paraná River, losing other territories to subsequent grants.

Disestablishment[edit]

After the establishment of the Viceroyalty of Peru in 1542, the Governorate of New Andalusia was replaced by the Governorate of the Río de la Plata, under the supervision of the Real Audiencia of Lima.

Governorates in Hispanic America[edit]

After the territorial division of South America between Spain and Portugal, the Peruvian Hispanic administration was divided into six entities:

This territorial division set the basis for the Hispanic administration of South America for several decades. It was formally dissolved in 1544, when King Charles I sent his personal envoy, Blasco Núñez Vela, to govern the newly founded Viceroyalty of Peru that replaced the governorates.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Eyzaguirre, Jaime (1967). Breve historia de las fronteras de Chile (in Spanish). Editorial Universitaria.