Virreyes

Virreyes, or viceroys, were officials who governed Spanish colonies in the Americas during colonial times, acting as the king's representatives. They held significant authority, overseeing administration, justice, military defense, and economic activities, effectively acting as the highest authority in the colony. Their role was to ensure the crown's policies were implemented and to manage local affairs on behalf of Spain. The title was used primarily from the 16th to the early 19th centuries, and viceroys played a key role in shaping the political, social, and economic development of Spanish colonial territories.