Intendancies

Intendancies were administrative divisions created by the Bourbon reforms to govern the territory better and collect taxes more efficiently. Each was headed by an intendant.

The first to be planned was the Intendancy of Arizpe, in the northwest (Sonora and Sinaloa), proposed in 1770 by the visitador José de Gálvez. With the Royal Ordinance of Intendants of 1786 the system was extended to all of New Spain, which was divided into twelve intendancies.