The Province of Trinidad (1525–1802) was a

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...

of the

Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire ( es, link=no, Imperio español), also known as the Hispanic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Hispánica) or the Catholic Monarchy ( es, link=no, Monarquía Católica) was a colonial empire governed by Spain and its prede ...

which was created in 1525. From 1591 to 1731 it was merged with

Guayana Province Guayana Province (1585−1864) was a former province of Spanish Colonial Venezuela and independent Venezuela, located in the Guyana region of northeastern South America. The province was part of the Spanish colonial New Andalusia Province and ...

, as Trinidad-Guayana Province. It was lost to the British in 1797, a loss recognised by the

Treaty of Amiens The Treaty of Amiens (french: la paix d'Amiens, ) temporarily ended hostilities between France and the United Kingdom at the end of the War of the Second Coalition The War of the Second Coalition (1798/9 – 1801/2, depending on perio ...

in 1802.

History

In 1520 the governorship of Trinidad was granted to

Rodrigo de Bastidas Rodrigo de Bastidas (; Triana, Seville, Andalusia, c. 1465 – Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, 28 July 1527) was a Spanish conquistador and explorer who mapped the northern coast of South America, discovered Panama, and founded the city of Santa Marta. ...

, but this was opposed by

Diego Columbus Diego Columbus ( pt, Diogo Colombo; es, Diego Colón; it, Diego Colombo; 1479/1480 – February 23, 1526) was a navigator and explorer under the Kings of Castile and Aragón. He served as the 2nd Admiral of the Indies, 2nd Viceroy of the Indie ...

, and Bastidas waived the grant.Charles Loftus Grant Anderson (1911),
Old Panama and Castilla del Oro
', Press of the Sudwarth Company In 1530 the king of Spain handed it over to

Antonio Sedeño Antonio Sedeño (died 1538) was a Spanish people, Spanish conquistador and the List of Governors of Trinidad, governor of Trinidad between 1530 and 1538. By 1514, Ferdinand II of Aragon, Ferdinand had named Andres de Haro as manager of the Puerto ...

who was its first governor until 1535 when he abandoned it due to ongoing litigation over jurisdiction with the

Province of Cumaná New Andalusia Province or Province of Cumaná (1537–1864) was a province of the Spanish Empire, and later of Gran Colombia and Venezuela. It included the territory of present-day Venezuelan states Sucre, Anzoátegui and Monagas. Its most im ...

. Its first capital was San José de Oruña, founded in 1592 and destroyed by the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

pirate

Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion ...

. In 1596, Trinidad was annexed to the

under the government of Antonio de Berrío, who had governed the island since 1591. The province was overseen by the president of the

Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo The Real Audiencia of Santo Domingo was the first court of the Spanish crown in America. It was created by Ferdinand V of Castile in his decree of 1511, but due to disagreements between the governor of Hispaniola, Diego Colon and the Crown, it ...

, which served as its

court of appeal A court of appeals, also called a court of appeal, appellate court, appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal. In much of t ...

, until 1739 when it was transferred over to the

Viceroyalty of New Granada The Viceroyalty of New Granada ( es, Virreinato de Nueva Granada, links=no ) also called Viceroyalty of the New Kingdom of Granada or Viceroyalty of Santafé was the name given on 27 May 1717, to the jurisdiction of the Spanish Empire in norther ...

and the Audiencia of Bogotá. The province was returned to the jurisdiction of the Santo Domingo Audiencia and placed in the

Captaincy General of Venezuela The Captaincy General of Venezuela ( es, Capitanía General de Venezuela), also known as the Kingdom of Venezuela (), was an administrative district of colonial Spain, created on September 8, 1777, through the Royal Decree of Graces of 1777, t ...

in 1777. With the establishment of the Audiencia of Caracas in 1786, all administrative and judicial functions were centered on

Caracas Caracas (, ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas, abbreviated as CCS, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela, and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the ...

. Finally in 1797, a British fleet commanded by

Henry Harvey Admiral Sir Henry Harvey KB (Bef. 4 Aug 1737 – 28 December 1810) was a long-serving officer of the British Royal Navy during the second half of the eighteenth century. Harvey participated in numerous naval operations and actions and espec ...

seized the island turning it into a

British colony The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Bri ...

. Its loss was recognised at the

in 1802.

Sources

*Fundación Polar (1997). "Trinidad, gobernacion de" in ''Diccionario de Historia de Venezuela''. Caracas: Fundación Polar.

References

{{coord, 10, 39, N, 67, 25, W, type:country_source:kolossus-eswiki, display=title Colonial Venezuela Spanish period of Trinidad and Tobago Provinces of the Spanish Empire States and territories established in 1525 1525 establishments in the Spanish Empire 1525 establishments in South America 16th-century establishments in Venezuela States and territories disestablished in 1802 1802 disestablishments in the Spanish Empire 1802 establishments in South America 16th century in Venezuela 17th century in Venezuela 18th century in Venezuela

History

See also

Sources

References