Gobierno Colonial
Item
Country
AR
Name of institution (English)
General Archive of the Nation
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Rondeau 2277 (Barrio Parque Patricios) - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. C1249ABR
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
comunicacionagn@mininterior.gob.ar
Reference number
S9
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Colonial Government
Title (official language of the state)
Gobierno Colonial
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Colonial Government
Date(s)
1516/1892
Language(s)
spa
Extent
4,140 storage units
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Gobierno Colonial (Colonial Government) fonds comprises documents related to the government of Argentinan territory during the colonial period. It includes extensive documentation, not only about issues concerning the administration of this region but also political communication with royal institutions in Madrid and other parts of the Spanish Empire.
It includes judicial documentation related to the activity of different courts, war-related documents, correspondence, orders, and dispatches in connection with the activity of political, judicial and religious institutions.
Some documents refer to the presence of Iberian conversos in the territory. For instance, S9-2093 17 (Reales Cédulas) includes a royal decree dating from October 17, 1602, ordering the expulsion of the Portuguese and all foreigners who had entered the province's jurisdiction and bishopric of Charcas. Through this and other documents in the collection, Boleslao Lewin (1939) states that being Portuguese was often understood by colonial authorities and society as synonymous with converso of Jewish origin. Indeed, this royal decree adverts to the "muchos portugueses que an entrada por elrrio de la plata y otras partes con los nauios de los negros y cristianos nuebos y gente poco segura en las cosas de nuestra santa fee Catholica Judaiçantes y que en los mas puertos de las indias ay mucha gente desta Calidad" [numerous Portuguese who entered La Plata river and other places with slave ships, and New Christians and suspicious people on matters of our holy Catholic faith, including judaizing people (those who expressed any Jewish-related behaviour) and that, in the most ports of the Indies, there are many people of this sort]. See the transcription of this document in Lewin (1939, 52-53).
It includes judicial documentation related to the activity of different courts, war-related documents, correspondence, orders, and dispatches in connection with the activity of political, judicial and religious institutions.
Some documents refer to the presence of Iberian conversos in the territory. For instance, S9-2093 17 (Reales Cédulas) includes a royal decree dating from October 17, 1602, ordering the expulsion of the Portuguese and all foreigners who had entered the province's jurisdiction and bishopric of Charcas. Through this and other documents in the collection, Boleslao Lewin (1939) states that being Portuguese was often understood by colonial authorities and society as synonymous with converso of Jewish origin. Indeed, this royal decree adverts to the "muchos portugueses que an entrada por elrrio de la plata y otras partes con los nauios de los negros y cristianos nuebos y gente poco segura en las cosas de nuestra santa fee Catholica Judaiçantes y que en los mas puertos de las indias ay mucha gente desta Calidad" [numerous Portuguese who entered La Plata river and other places with slave ships, and New Christians and suspicious people on matters of our holy Catholic faith, including judaizing people (those who expressed any Jewish-related behaviour) and that, in the most ports of the Indies, there are many people of this sort]. See the transcription of this document in Lewin (1939, 52-53).
Archival history
After the creation of the Viceroyalty in 1776, new institutions were established, such as the Tribunal de Cuentas, the Real Audiencia, and the Consulado. Each had its own archives.
When the first viceroy, Pedro de Cevallos (1715-1778), returned to Spain after completing his term, he took most documents relating to royal service. However, this case is exceptional, as the following viceroys did not follow the same practice. His successor, Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo (1719-1799), instructed that letters, decrees, orders and other records should be duly archived. Vértiz also introduced the practice of appointing a person to organise the papers and keep them under custody. Francisco Rodrigo held these responsibilities at the time. Despite that, Lorenzo Fuentes was the first official archivist appointed by the Crown on February 5, 1797.
During the Revolutionary process, the archive's conditions worsened. In 1821, the so-called Registro Oficial (Official Register) was created to ensure that all laws, decrees, orders, and letters were collected. Since then, different catalogues have been produced, and the facilities of the Archivo General gradually improved.
When the first viceroy, Pedro de Cevallos (1715-1778), returned to Spain after completing his term, he took most documents relating to royal service. However, this case is exceptional, as the following viceroys did not follow the same practice. His successor, Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo (1719-1799), instructed that letters, decrees, orders and other records should be duly archived. Vértiz also introduced the practice of appointing a person to organise the papers and keep them under custody. Francisco Rodrigo held these responsibilities at the time. Despite that, Lorenzo Fuentes was the first official archivist appointed by the Crown on February 5, 1797.
During the Revolutionary process, the archive's conditions worsened. In 1821, the so-called Registro Oficial (Official Register) was created to ensure that all laws, decrees, orders, and letters were collected. Since then, different catalogues have been produced, and the facilities of the Archivo General gradually improved.
Administrative / Biographical history
The documentation of the colonial period preserved in the Archivo General de la Nación in Buenos Aires is strongly linked to the transformations in the governance institutional architectures of King Carlos III of Spain (1716-1788), in particular the creation of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (1776).
After being appointed in June 1776 by the Spanish Crown to lead a military expedition to expel the Portuguese from Colonia del Sacramento, Pedro de Cevallos (1715-1778) was chosen (August 1776) to be viceroy, governor and captain-general of Buenos Aires. Cevallos ensured the concentration of political power and economic management under his leadership to effectively answer military threats. He also aimed to boost the region's economy. Thus, he demanded that the mining resources of Tucumán, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Potosí and the entire district of the Audiencia de Charcas be included within the new jurisdiction instead of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The creation of the Viceroyalty was followed by the establishment of the "Régimen de Intendencias" (Regime of Intendencies), which were institutions adopted in 18th-century Spain to achieve greater levels of rationality in internal government and promote economic development.
In the case of Río de la Plata, this system was formally created in 1782. Although, five years before that, Cevallos had appointed one of his officials, Manuel Ignacio Fernández, "intendente de ejército y hacienda" (Intendant of the Army and Treasury). One year later, this Intendencia was transformed into the Superintendencia de Real Hacienda (Superintendant of the Royal Treasury).
Following this period, there were decades of clashes between the jurisdiction of both authorities. Successive reforms were carried out to define more clearly the power limits of each official.
The viceroy's powers were not only of a governing and military nature but also judicial, legislative, religious and financial. He was the president of the Audiencia and general superintendent of the Royal Treasury. In the religious field, he held the title of "Vice-Patrón", which enabled him to participate in the communications between the Church and the Crown and oversee the non-ecclesiastical aspects of the secular and regular clergy. His functions also included the right to appoint minor officials, promote conquest and colonisation of new lands, find new towns, and deal with the infrastructures needed to maintain the circulation of people and armies (e.g., maintenance of roads, construction and repair of bridges, to name a few).
After being appointed in June 1776 by the Spanish Crown to lead a military expedition to expel the Portuguese from Colonia del Sacramento, Pedro de Cevallos (1715-1778) was chosen (August 1776) to be viceroy, governor and captain-general of Buenos Aires. Cevallos ensured the concentration of political power and economic management under his leadership to effectively answer military threats. He also aimed to boost the region's economy. Thus, he demanded that the mining resources of Tucumán, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Potosí and the entire district of the Audiencia de Charcas be included within the new jurisdiction instead of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
The creation of the Viceroyalty was followed by the establishment of the "Régimen de Intendencias" (Regime of Intendencies), which were institutions adopted in 18th-century Spain to achieve greater levels of rationality in internal government and promote economic development.
In the case of Río de la Plata, this system was formally created in 1782. Although, five years before that, Cevallos had appointed one of his officials, Manuel Ignacio Fernández, "intendente de ejército y hacienda" (Intendant of the Army and Treasury). One year later, this Intendencia was transformed into the Superintendencia de Real Hacienda (Superintendant of the Royal Treasury).
Following this period, there were decades of clashes between the jurisdiction of both authorities. Successive reforms were carried out to define more clearly the power limits of each official.
The viceroy's powers were not only of a governing and military nature but also judicial, legislative, religious and financial. He was the president of the Audiencia and general superintendent of the Royal Treasury. In the religious field, he held the title of "Vice-Patrón", which enabled him to participate in the communications between the Church and the Crown and oversee the non-ecclesiastical aspects of the secular and regular clergy. His functions also included the right to appoint minor officials, promote conquest and colonisation of new lands, find new towns, and deal with the infrastructures needed to maintain the circulation of people and armies (e.g., maintenance of roads, construction and repair of bridges, to name a few).
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised chiefly according to institutions of colonial government. Occasionally, some series are arranged by types of documents. Internally, series are organised chronologically.
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo General de la Nación | Collections (official language of the state) |