The following is a list of Viceroys of New Spain. In addition to

viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning " ...

s, the following lists the highest Spanish governors of the Viceroyalty of

New Spain New Spain, officially the Viceroyalty of New Spain ( es, Virreinato de Nueva España, ), or Kingdom of New Spain, was an integral territorial entity of the Spanish Empire, established by Habsburg Spain during the Spanish colonization of the A ...

, before the appointment of the first viceroy or when the office of viceroy was vacant. Most of these individuals exercised most or all of the functions of viceroy, usually on an interim basis.

Governor of the West Indies

This office covered the territories that were discovered by Christopher Columbus. : 1492–1499 –

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

, as governor and viceroy of the West Indies : 1499–1502 –

Francisco de Bobadilla Francisco Fernández de Bobadilla (c. 1448 – 1 July 1502) was an official under the Crown of Castile and a knight of the Order of Calatrava. He was also the brother of Beatriz de Bobadilla, marchioness (''marquesa'') of Moya and of Peñalosa ...

, as governor of the West Indies : 1502–1509 – Nicolás de Ovando y Cáceres, as governor of the West Indies : 1509–1518 – Diego Columbus, as governor of the West Indies until 1511, thereafter as viceroy

Governor of New Spain

This office covered the territories that were claimed by Hernán Cortés. The office covered the territories that were under the control of the Governor of the Indies after 1524. : 13 August 1521 – 24 December 1521

Hernán Cortés Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquess of the Valley of Oaxaca (; ; 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish ''conquistador'' who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions of w ...

: 24 December 1521 – 30 December 1521

Cristóbal de Tapia Cristóbal de Tapia was an inspector sent to New Spain in 1521 to investigate the conduct of the conquistador Hernán Cortés, and if he deemed it necessary, to arrest him and bring him to trial. Because his authority derived from the king and s ...

: 30 December 1521 – 12 October 1524

, as governor and captain general from 15 October 1522 : 12 October 1524 – 29 December 1524

Alonso de Estrada Alonso de Estrada (, Ciudad Real, Castile – 16 February 1530, ) was a colonial official in New Spain during the period of Hernán Cortés' government, and before the appointment of the first viceroy. He was a member of the triumvirates tha ...

Rodrigo de Albornoz Rodrigo de Albornoz was an auditor and colonial official in New Spain during the period of Hernán Cortés's government, and before the appointment of the first viceroy. He was a member of the triumvirates that governed the colony for several sho ...

, Alonso de Zuazo : 29 December 1524 – 17 February 1525 Gonzalo de Salazar,

Pedro Almíndez Chirino Pedro Almíndez Chirino (or ''Pedro Almíndez Chirinos'') was a conquistador born in Úbeda and member of several councils that governed New Spain while Hernán Cortés was traveling to Honduras, in 1525-26. Almíndez was an ally of Gonzalo de ...

, Alonso de Zuazo : 17 February 1525 – 20 April 1525 Gonzalo de Salazar, Pedro Almíndez Chirino, Alonso de Estrada, Rodrigo de Albornoz, Alonso de Zuazo : 20 April 1525 – 23 May 1525 Gonzalo de Salazar, Pedro Almíndez Chirino, Alonso de Zuazo : 24 May 1525 – 28 January 1526 Gonzalo de Salazar, Pedro Almíndez Chirino : 29 January 1526 – 24 June 1526 Alonso de Estrada, Rodrigo de Albornoz : 25 June 1526 – 3 July 1526

: 4 July 1526 – 16 July 1526 Luis Ponce de León : 16 July 1526 – 1 March 1527 Marcos de Aguilar : 2 March 1527 – 22 August 1527

Gonzalo de Sandoval Gonzalo de Sandoval (1497, Medellín, Spain – late in 1528, Palos de la Frontera, Spain) was a Spanish conquistador in New Spain (Mexico)Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books, and briefly co-governor of the col ...

, Luis de la Torre : 22 August 1527 – 8 December 1528 Alonso de Estrada, Luis de la Torre : 9 December 1528 – 21 December 1529 Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán, Juan Ortiz de Matienzo, Diego Delgadillo (the first Audiencia) : 21 December 1529 – 9 January 1531 Juan Ortiz de Matienzo, Diego Delgadillo (the first Audiencia) : 10 January 1531 – 16 April 1535 Sebastián Ramírez de Fuenleal,

Vasco de Quiroga Vasco de Quiroga (1470/78 – 14 March 1565) was the first bishop of Michoacán, Mexico, and one of the judges (''oidores'') in the second Real Audiencia of Mexico – the high court that governed New Spain – from January 10, 1531, to April 16, ...

, Juan de Salmerón,

Alonso de Maldonado Alonso de Maldonado Diez de Ledesma (1480 Salamanca, Spain), was a Spanish lawyer and a member of the second Real Audiencia of Mexico, which governed New Spain from January 10, 1531 to April 16, 1535. He was also president of the first Real Au ...

, Francisco Ceinos (the second Audiencia)

Viceroys of New Spain (1535–1821)

The first Viceroy of New Spain was appointed in 1535 to consolidate the offices of the Governor of the Indies and the Governor of New Spain into a single office.

External links

List of viceroys and other colonial rulers
at the Mexican government site
Cronología de los Gobernantes de México 1325–2000
(Powerpoint) * List of Spanish colonial officials before the viceroyalty {{DEFAULTSORT:Viceroys Of New Spain, List Of *01 * *New Spain New Spain, viceroys Heads of state of Mexico History of New Spain Mexico history-related lists 16th-century Mexican people 17th-century Mexican people 18th-century Mexican people 19th-century Mexican people Viceroy of New Spain Viceroy of New Spain 16th-century monarchs in North America 17th-century monarchs in North America 18th-century monarchs in North America 19th-century monarchs in North America 1492 establishments in the Spanish Empire 1524 disestablishments in the Spanish Empire 1521 establishments in New Spain 1821 disestablishments in New Spain

Governor of the West Indies

Governor of New Spain

Viceroys of New Spain (1535–1821)

See also

External links