What was the name of the viceroy-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America and its peripheries in Asia from 1521 to 1821?
Q: What was the name of the viceroy-ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America and its peripheries in Asia from 1521 to 1821?
A: The Viceroyalty of New Spain.
Q: What areas were included in the Viceroyalty of New Spain's territory?
A: The Viceroyalty of New Spain's territory included what is now central and southern Mexico, Bay Islands (until 1643), Cayman Islands (until 1670), Central America (as far as the southern border of Costa Rica until 1821), Cuba, Florida, Hispaniola (including Haiti until 1700), Jamaica (until 1670) Mariana Islands, Mexico, Philippines, Puerto Rico, and nearly all of the southwestern United States (including all or parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico Texas and Florida).
Q: How were provinces within the Viceroyalty led?
A: Provinces within the Viceroyalty were led by a governor who was responsible for administering them and often also leading their armies and militias.
Q: How did high courts fit into governing provinces within the Viceroyalty?
A: Provinces were grouped together under five high courts called Audiencias located at Santo Domingo, Mexico City Guatemala Guadalajara and Manila. Both these high courts and governors had autonomy from the viceroy but only on important issues did they need to involve him directly.
Q: When did Spain lose continental territories due to independence movements?
A: In 1821 Spain lost continental territories when it recognized both Mexican independence as well as Santo Domingo when it was invaded by Haiti that same year.
Q: Which Spanish colonies remained part of its crown after 1821?
A: After 1821 Cuba Puerto Rico and Spanish East Indies including Mariana Islands and Philippines remained part of Spanish crown until 1898 when they were lost during Spanish–American War.
