Corregidor (position)

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For the Philippine island, see Corregidor

A corregidor was an administrative position in Spain. They began to be appointed in fourteenth century Castile and the institution was definitively abolished in 1833. They were the representatives of the royal jurisdiction over a town and its district.

In spite of the opposition of council towns and the Cortes (Parliament), Castilian kings began to appoint direct representatives in towns during fourteenth century. They were also called jueces del salario or alcaldes veedores but the term corregidor prevailed. The word regidor often means town councillor in the Spanish language. Thus, co-regidor was the position intended to co-rule the town together with elected councillors. The definitive consolidation of the institution occurred during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs (1474-1516). Corregidores were crucial for the state building process that both monarchs ushered in.

As representatives of the royal power, corregidores administered justice, both criminal and civil, in first or second instance, presided the town council and ruled over a district called a corregimiento. They were audited and controlled through the juicio de residencia (a general audit and review at the end of their term in office) or by means of visitas (literally, 'visits', more accurately, 'inspections'), which could occur at any point in their term in response to complaints. The corregimiento became the basic unit of state administration in early modern Spain.

After the War of Succession, the new Bourbon kings introduced them into the Aragonese territories, replacing the bailes and vegueres, who, nevertheless, had very similar functions to Castilian corregidores.

The institution was established also in Spanish America during the conquest, where it were also known by the names justicia mayor and alcalde mayor. With the Bourbon Reforms of the late 18th century, most corregidores were replaced by the more powerful intendants.

[edit] Bibliography

• González Alonso, Benjamín: El corregidor castellano (1348-1808), Madrid: Instituto de Estudios Administrativos, 1970