Governorate of New León

The Governorate of New León[1][2] was a Governorate of the Crown of Castile created in 1534. It was granted to Simón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor and later to Francisco de Camargo, expanding the territory to the Strait of Magellan bordering with the Governorate of Terra Australis since 1539.[3]

Governorate of New León
Gobernación de Nueva León
1529–1544
Flag of New León
Flag
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
CapitalPuerto de los Leones
Official languagesSpanish
Religion
Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
King 
• 1529-1542
Simón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor
Historical eraSpanish Empire
• Created by Capitulación de Toledo
1529
• Dissolved by Real Cédula
1544
CurrencyEscudo
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Mapuche
Tehuelche people
Indigenous peoples in Argentina
Indigenous peoples in Chile
Captaincy General of Chile
Governorate of the Río de la Plata
Governorate of Tucumán

History

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The Governorate was created as one of King Charles V's grants of 1529, establishing the adelantado Simón de Alcazaba y Sotomayor as its first governor, captain general, and chief justice. The territory was described as extending 200 leagues down the Pacific coast from Pedro de Mendoza's grant of New Andalusia.

On May 21, 1534 the king signed three other capitulations to explore and occupy the American lands, establishing provinces or governorates of 200 leagues of north-south extension, including the governorship of Nueva León, granted to Simón de Alcazaba and Sotomayor, also from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific, south of 36° 57' 09S (line from Coronel to Pinamar) and up to 48° 22' 52s (line from Campana Island to Laura Bay).

The Governorate was subsequently extended to the Strait of Magellan and the southern lands from it.

Governorates in Hispanic America

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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.

References

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  1. ^ Eyzaguirre, Jaime (1967). Breve historia de las fronteras de Chile (in Spanish). Editorial Universitaria.
  2. ^ "1534". Memoria Chilena. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. ^ Pinochet de la Barra, Óscar (November 1944). La Antártica Chilena. Editorial Andrés Bello.

See also

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