Real Audiencia of Guadalajara

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The Real Audiencia of Guadalajara was located in the center of the city

The Real Audiencia of Guadalajara , in Spanish completely: Audiencia y Cancillería Real de Guadalajara (also: de Nueva Galicia ), was a court in Guadalajara (Mexico) , an institution of colonial administration and at the same time a judicial district ( Real Audiencia ) of the Spanish crown. It existed from 1548 to 1821 as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain .

The role of the Real Audiencias in the colonies

After the conquest of Central and South America ( Conquista ) by the Spaniards, King Charles V issued the “Laws on India” (Spanish: Leyes de Indias ) as well as the “New Laws” (Spanish: Leyes Nuevas ), in which he is the administration of the overseas colonies in the "Viceroyalty of New Castile" organized and regulated.

The Real Audiencias were responsible for the implementation of the laws and the support of the military governors . They fulfilled tasks in administration and finance that went far beyond that of a court according to today's understanding, especially as a separation of powers was unknown. In addition to a chairman and usually four judges (Spanish: Oidores ), there was a public prosecutor (Spanish: fiscal ), but also subordinate executive forces such as a bailiff (Spanish: alguacil mayor ), police officers, translators, etc.

The foundation in 1548

After the conquest of today's Mexico by the Spaniards under Hernán Cortés , King Charles V ordered the Real Audiencia of Mexico in 1527 . Spain established the viceroyalty of New Spain in 1530, and the first viceroy Antonio de Mendoza reached Mexico in 1535.

The conquests in the north were led as Nueva Galicia (German: New Galicia), in view of the long distances the Spaniards founded another audiencia here in 1548, which was to be led by the governor of New Galicia. The governor reported to the viceroy in Mexico City. The first seat was Compostela (Nayarit) , followed in 1560 by the move to Guadalajara (Mexico) .

The Audiencia of Guadalajara was the last audiencia to be built during the first wave of the Conquista . When it was founded, there were already audiences in Santo Domingo (1511), Mexico City (1527), Panamá (1538), Lima and Guatemala (1543).

Jurisdiction

The Audiencia of Guadalajara was responsible for what is now northern Mexico and the Spanish possessions in California and New Mexico .

Concretization of the tasks 1680

With the Recopilación de Leyes de Indias in 1680, the Spanish Crown summarized the individual provisions in the New World that had been enacted over the years into one legal text. A number of four oidores was set for the Audiencia of Mexico .

Reforms in the 18th century

The Bourbons reformed the Spanish administrative system in the 18th century. Following the French model, the colonies were divided into smaller administrative units, so-called intendencias . New Galicia was divided into an eastern and a western part; Parts of administrative and judicial tasks are delegated to the level of the Intendencias .

resolution

In 1821 the leader of the independence movement, Agustín de Iturbide, signed the Treaty of Cordoba with the last Spanish viceroy, Juan O'Donojú , which sealed the independence of Mexico. The administration and administration of justice were thus transferred to the Mexican state .

However, at that time the Spaniards only had rule over the cities of Acapulco , Mexico City and Veracruz . The Audiencia of Guadalajara had already lost its capacity to act during the War of Independence .

literature

  • María Belén García López: Los Fondos Documentales de la Audiencia de Guadalajara en el Archivo General de Indias . In: Nuevo Mundo - Mundos Nuevos . 2010 ( nuevomundo.revues.org [accessed June 22, 2015]).

Web links