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Captaincy General of Chile

Capitanía General de Chile
Spanish colony
1541–1818


Flag of the Spanish Empire

Map of the Kingdom of Chile in 1796 and claimed territories
Capital Santiago, Chile
Languages Spanish, Mapudungun
Religion Roman Catholicism
Government Monarchy
King
 •  1541–1556 Charles I
 •  1808–1813 Joseph I
 •  1813–1818 Ferdinand VII
Royal Governor
 •  1541–1553 Pedro de Valdivia
 •  1815–1817 Casimiro Marcó del Pont
Historical era Spanish Empire
 •  Established 1541
 •  Chilean Independence February 12, 1818
Currency Peso
Succeeded by
Conservative Republic


Flag of the Spanish Empire

The General Captaincy of Chile (Capitanía General de Chile) or Gobernación de Chile, was a colony of the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile. It had a number of governors over its long history and technically one king, Felipe II, who was not the reigning Spanish king.

The General Captaincy of Chile was incorporated to the Crown of Castile as were all the other Spanish possessions in the New World. The General Captaincy of Chile was first known as New Extremadura (a name subsequently given to a part of Mexico) and then as Indian Flanders. The Captaincy was a part of the Viceroyalty of Perú.

The administrative apparatus of the General Captaincy of Chile was subordinate to the Council of the Indies and the Laws of the Indies, like the other Spanish colonial possessions. The day-to-day work was handled mostly by viceroys and governors, who represented the king's will. The areas of the Americas, which had been the site of complex civilizations or became rich societies were usually referred to by the Spanish as "kingdoms," such as the "New Kingdom of Granada", the "Kingdom of Mexico", or the "Kingdom of Guatemala."


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