Council of the Indies

The Consejo de Indias (Spanish Consejo Supremo completely real y de Indias, German short Indies, rarely also the Indies ), was highest colonial authority and main administrative body of the Spanish colonial empire. The Consejo de Indias regulated all the affairs of the overseas possessions of Spain in America and the Philippines. He was endowed with legislative and executive functions; in the colonies, he was also the supreme court of appeal. The Council did not own tight fit, but met always where was staying the respective monarch.

History of the Consejo de Indias

The Consejo de Indias arose gradually, in proportion as the new territories overseas which have been taken for the Spanish crown in possession, multiplied and grew in importance to the Spanish mainland: In 1503 Isabella I. had establishing its own chamber of Commerce, the Casa de Contratación causes seen to be subject to trade with the colonies greater control. Parallel to this was in the Privy Council, a special commission out, specifically dedicated to the issues of possessions in the New World; already by 1516 this as Consejo de Indias ( " Indies " ) is called. This first rather informal board is headed by the influential heads of state and church, Juan Rodríguez de Fonseca, the de facto first colonial minister of Spain ascends in this way and regarded as the true architect of the Spanish colonial administration.

Fonseca had organized with the second, even enthusiastically welcomed journey of Christopher Columbus, however, was formed at this time a deep enmity between the two personalities out. After the rather disappointing outcome of the subsequent trips and the chaotic conditions on the islands themselves ( the hoped-for riches were not found and more and more Spanish came in hostilities with the natives of the islands lost their lives and rivalries and animosities between individual leaders led to tensions, to the promised wealth cheated believed colonists accused Columbus of abuse and nepotism; finally sent Columbus 500 enslaved Tainos as a " gift" to his patroness Isabella, who, however, nothing held from slavery and the Tainos to be returned to their home sent ) translated the Catholic kings a commission of inquiry, who was also Fonseca. As a result, Fonseca advised the Spanish monarch to subject all newly discovered areas directly of the crown and the explorers - so in this particular case, Christopher Columbus - to withdraw the privileges previously granted again. So is posted with Francisco de Bobadilla, the first independent, equipped with full powers, only the crown Subordinate officers in the New World in 1500, its first task is to enforce the will of the monarch of the mother country in the colonies. This laid the foundation for the later colonial administration has been laid. Columbus loses the title " Viceroy " and " governor ", 's dismissal and eventually zurückverfrachtet in chains to Spain.

When Charles I. reform the political system and Hernán Cortés increases the overseas possessions with the conquest of Mexico again enormous, is converted in 1524 the Consejo de Indias in an independent institution that now bears the official name of Real y Supremo Consejo de Indias.

Under this designation, the establishment until the 18th century remains. It was not until 1714 the Consejo de Indias is stripped during the Bourbon administrative reforms of its legislative and administrative tasks. In addition, the institution in 1717 rapidly loses more functions to the newly created Secretaría de Marina e Indias. 1812 the Consejo de Indias is abolished, however, used two years later in the course of the restoration of Ferdinand VII again. It was not until 1834 the institution is finally resolved.

Organization and tasks

The Consejo de Indias was composed of a President, about twelve councilors and a downstream staff together. The offices included, inter alia, a Grand Chancellor, a Treasurer, two Secretaries, a writer, a cosmographers, a chronicler and a poor lawyer. Its members were mostly lawyers, theologians or scholars mostly middle-class origins and were appointed exclusively by the Crown. He met weekly to report to the king on his activities; the recommendations were then approved or rejected by the king.

The Consejo de Indias governed all political, legal and administrative issues of the colonies. Its diverse tasks ranging from the organization of settlement programs through the creation of Vice kingdoms, to monitoring of censorship.

In 1785, the documents of the Consejo de Indias royal decree of Charles III were. transferred back into the company especially established for this purpose Archivo General de Indias in Seville.