The Viceroyalty of New Spain is known as an extinct territorial entity part of the Spanish Empire, which for some 300 years, between the years 1500 and 1800, was perhaps the richest and most important area that Spain managed to dominate in the American continent.
It spread throughout much of North America, Central America, the Caribbean and to a lesser extent, South America and some Pacific islands corresponding to the current Asian continent.
Carlos V
Being a territory far from the Spanish Peninsula, there was a representative of the Crown in charge of governing the territory in question, this figure was known as Viceroy.
The Viceroy was the highest authority figure in New Spain, his position also granted him 5 titles for the administration of the Viceroyalty: Governor, Captain General, President of the Audience, Superintendent of the Royal Treasury and Vice Patron of the Church.
These 5 titles corresponded to various areas of public administration: Government, War, Justice, Finance and Ecclesiastical.
Principal functions of the viceroy
government
The viceroy was the highest authority in all the territories of New Spain.
His duties as Governor included promulgating laws and regulations at the legislative level, appointing public employees and officials, maintenance of municipal spaces, import and export of food, water and other essential goods, immigration matters, and the maintenance of morals. and order in the Viceroyalty.
He was also the personal representative of the King, so he was the direct connection with the Spanish Crown.
War
The title of Captain General of the military and naval forces allowed him to defend the sovereignty of the entire territory through the use of the Mexican Navy.
He was the Commander-in-Chief of the operations corresponding to the militia, so he was not only in charge of protection against external and internal enemies, but also of different administrative activities of the Navy.
How to keep the troops with enough supplies for their arsenal, food, medical assistance and pay their salaries.
Justice
As President of the Mexican Court, he was the one who presided over the Royal Court, the judicial body in charge of dispensing justice in New Spain.
This was made up of the Viceroy, prosecutors, judges, a clerk and a bailiff, among other minor members.
Although the Viceroy could decide which matters were of governmental competence and which of judicial competence, he had no voting power in the latter.
Estate
He acted as the Superintendent of the Royal Treasury, handled the fiscal and treasury affairs of the Viceroyalty, in addition to the collection of taxes.
He was always advised by royal officials who kept the accounting books and guarded the Mexican box.
The important financial decisions were made by the General Board of the Royal Treasury, which was made up of the Viceroy, an ear, a prosecutor and a royal official.
Ecclesiastical
Although he had the title of Vice Patron of the Church, his functions were limited or hardly possible to fulfill, since his civil power used to have friction with the ecclesiastical.
He could only suggest members for appointment as Bishops, but the power to appoint them as such did not rest with him.
References
- Gloria Delgado de Cantú. (2010). Mexico history. Mexico: Prentice Hall.
- Donald E. Smith. (1916). The Catholic Historical Review. California: Catholic University of America Press.
- Andrés G. Martínez. (2015). Functions of the Viceroy. 2017, from PARA TODO MÉXICO Website: Functions of the Viceroy.
- National School College of Sciences and Humanities. (2017). Origin and characteristics of the viceroyalty of New Spain. 2017, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico Website: Origin and characteristics of the viceroyalty of New Spain.
- The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (1998). Viceroy. 2017, from Encyclopædia Britannica Website: Viceroy.