Governorate of Cuba

Governorate of Cuba
Cuba
Governorate of Castile (Spanish Empire)
← 1511–1519 →
Flag Coat of arms
Islands and Mainland in the Ocean Sea at 1513
Capital		Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa
Languages		Spanish
Religion		Roman Catholicism
Government		Monarchy
List of Castilian monarchs		Joanna of Castile, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Governor		Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar
Historical era		Spanish Empire
•	Established	1511
•	Incorporation to New Spain	1519

Since the 16th century the island of Cuba had been under the control of the governor-captain general of Santo Domingo. The conquest of Cuba was organized in 1510 by the recently restored Viceroy of the Indies, Diego Colón, under the command of Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, who became Cuba's first governor until his death in 1524.

Velázquez founded the city of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa in 1511 and convoked a general cabildo (a local government council) to govern Cuba, which was authorized by the king of Spain.

Hernán Cortés's Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was undertaken from Cuba. Cuba was incorporated in New Spain after the conquest of Mexico.

References

• Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos en Las Islas Y Tierra firme