The Four Viceroyalties of Spanish Latin America

At its peak (late 18th century), the Spanish Empire in the Americas was administered through **four Viceroyalties**—each headed by a **Viceroy** (Virrey) representing the Crown.

1. Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España) — **Est. 1535**
   Capital: México City (Tenochtitlan).
   Territory: Mexico, Central America (to Costa Rica), **Spanish Caribbean** (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Trinidad), **Philippines, Guam, Marianas, Caroline Islands** (administered via Manila Galleon), **Florida, Louisiana (west of Mississippi), California, Southwest US**.
2. Viceroyalty of Peru (Virreinato del Perú) — **Est. 1542**
   Capital: Lima (Ciudad de los Reyes).
   Territory: **All South America** except Portuguese Brazil & Venezuelan coast. Later reduced by creations of New Granada & Río de la Plata.
3. Viceroyalty of New Granada (Virreinato de Nueva Granada) — **Est. 1717 (permanent 1739)**
   Capital: Santa Fe de Bogotá.
   Territory: **Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama** (plus Guyana coast claims). Created to defend Caribbean coast & manage northern Andes.
4. Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata (Virreinato del Río de la Plata) — **Est. 1776**
   Capital: Buenos Aires.
   Territory: **Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia** (Upper Peru), parts of Brazil/Chile claims. Created to secure South Atlantic vs. Portuguese/British.

Subordinate Units

• Captaincies General: Guatemala, Venezuela, Cuba, Chile, Philippines — military/political autonomy within viceroyalties.
• Audiencias: High courts (Mexico, Lima, Bogotá, Charcas, Quito, Guatemala, Manila, Santo Domingo, Guadalajara) — judicial + administrative oversight.

These four viceroyalties became the **basis for the independent nations** of Latin America after 1810–1825.