Establishment of Hearings and Provinces

The conquistadors were the first to claim territory and benefits. Emerged hearings were ruled by them in most cases. The Indian was being abused for their labor (sadly, the land which he owned and lived just before the conquest).

In 1542 the Spanish Crown issued the Ordinance of Barcelona, also called "New Laws", establishing the creation of real audiences.

Then created the Real Audiencia de los Confines on May 16, 1543 in Gracias, Honduras. Its first president was Alonso Maldonado. (Remember that Guatemala did not exist or was defined as a country yet). The enforcement was not as expected, especially for indigenous treatment was not worthy, so pressure from Fray Bartolome de las Casas fruit managed to replace Maldonado Alonso López Cerrato who stake for respectable behavior.

Cerrato was appreciated by the Indians and Fray Bartolomé (then considered a defender of the Indians). Among his achievements was declared free of indigenous tanidad large, cut taxes and speculation was influential in moving the audience to Guatemala.

Hearing of Santiago de Guatemala

Was established by Royal Charter the Royal Audiencia and Chancery Santiago de Guatemala on September 13, 1543. This ranged from from Mexico to Costa Rica, including northern Yucatan (Cozumel).

For February 1548 by King territories were returned to Cozumel, Chiapas and Yucatan in Mexico for the hearing. Soconusco again grouped with the Court of Santiago de Guatemala in 1556.

From this point continues a reorganization chapter of territories and audiences to take control over various regions.

Provinces

The region became a group of provinces:

• Province of Ciudad Real de Chiapas
• Guatemala Province
• San Salvador Province
• Comayagua Province
• and the Province of Nicaragua and Costa Rica

Together formed the Captaincy General of Guatemala.

For 1785 he began to implement a system of municipalities in the captaincy, dividing each province into several areas each called party. Guatemala was then a General Superintendent and administered 4 main regions: Guatemala, Escuintla, Chiquimula and Quetzaltenango.

The administrative subdivision continued to turn, shaping municipalities and districts, they would take the current departments name:

Mayoralties:

Escuintla, Sacatepequez, Solola, Sonsonate, Suchitepequez, Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán and Verapaz

The townships were Quetzaltenango and Chiquimula. The kingdom of Guatemala also included San Salvador and Comayagua.

Although not all of the territory was already taking shape sociopolitical you define as a country in the future.