Virreinato de Nueva España

New Spain was the viceroyalty that Spain established after the conquest of Tenochtitlan in 1521, and it lasted until Mexico’s independence in 1821. The viceroy governed it as the personal representative of the Spanish king; the first viceroy was Antonio de Mendoza, appointed in 1535.

Don’t confuse the viceroy with the tlatoani, the ruler of the Mexica before the conquest.