Folding Screen,
biombo, with the
Conquest of Mexico
(front) and Mexico
city (reverse), mid to
late 17th Century
“Ciudad de San Juan de la Frontera,
en las provincias de Cuyo, Tucumán:
plano fundacional.” 1562
Seville, Archivo General de Indias
MP, Buenos Aires 9.
Document published by Zelia Nutall, “Royal Ordinances
Concerning the Laying out of New Towns” Hispanic American
Historical Review, 4, 4, (1921). Doc dated 1573.
Cabildo: Town Council
•  Only representative body in the Spanish Americas
•  Could rule only at city level and its most proximate
surroundings
•  Elected members: councilmembers or alcades. Only
Spaniards could be elected, but current Regidor
(main magistrate) commonly elected successor
•  All functions of the city: from public services to
defense (by organizing militias), from justice to
legislation at the town level
King
Council of Indies,
1524-1834
Board of
Trade, 1543
Viceroy
Royal
Bureaucracy
and Army
Europe
Real Audiencia
Spanish
Cabildo
(city and
towns)
Indian
Cabildo
(Indian
villages)
Church
America
Corregidor
(rural districts)
Critical Amerindian visions on Colonial authorities:
Peru, 16th Century. Huaman Poma’s depictions
“The Corregidor punishes
poor Alcalde Ordinario:
bring two additional eggs”
Encomendero makes the
Corregidor execute the
Cacique Don Juan
Cayanchire
“Corregidor and Priest
on a night watch,
watching the private
parts of women”
Real Audiencias
(High Courts)
Both High Court and Advisory
body to Viceroys (Judicial and
Executive Powers).
Direct communication with the
King, confrontation with
Viceroys over jurisdiction
Audiencia judges were lifetime
position, more important than
Viceroys in the long term for
local regions
Medieval concept of justice as
the most important task of
government
Viceroys
Conquerors given the title of “Adelantado,”
someone advanced into this New World
Viceroys put in place to curtail power of both
conquistadors and encomenderos, as well as
to advance royal control on the ground
While concentrated most of the power,
Viceroys were in constant conflicts with Real
Audiencia over jurisdiction
Short terms: 5-7 years. Increasingly a
military appointment in the 18th Century.
Antonio de Mendoza y Pacheco,
First Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico)
1535-1550, and first surviving
Viceroy of Peru, 1551-1552.
Council of Indies, 1524-1834
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Legislative
Judicial (it could revoke Real Audiencia rulings)
Financial
Commercial (it oversaw the Board of Trade, 1543)
Military
Ecclesiastical