Corregimiento de Potosí facts for kids
The corregimiento de Potosí was a special region or district during the time of the Spanish Empire. It was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, which was a huge area controlled by Spain in South America. Today, this region is part of Bolivia.
A person called a corregidor was in charge of this district. This leader lived sometimes in La Plata (which is now called Sucre) and sometimes in Potosí. Later, in the 1700s, this district became known as the Government of Potosí.
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Founding of Important Cities
On September 29, 1538, the city we now know as Sucre was founded. It was first named Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo. Pedro Anzúrez de Camporredondo founded it on the orders of Francisco Pizarro. It was built on the site of an older local settlement called Chuquisaca.
Religious and Educational Centers
In 1522, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sucre was created. This was an important religious center for the region. The first bishop, or religious leader, was a friar named Domingo de Santo Tomás.
Later, in 1624, the University of Saint Francis Xavier was founded in the region. This university became a very important place for learning and education.
The Royal Court of Charcas
On September 18, 1559, Philip II of Spain created the Real Audiencia of Charcas. This was like a high court or a main governing body for the region. It was set up over the territory of the corregimiento of Potosí.
Expanding the Territory
The area controlled by the Real Audiencia of Charcas grew over time.
- On August 29, 1563, it expanded to include the Governorate of Tucumán.
- It also included the province of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
- And the lands between La Plata and the city of Cusco. (These last lands were later returned to the Real Audiencia of Lima in 1573).
- On October 1, 1566, the Governorate of New Andalusia was also added.
In 1565, the Governor of Peru, Lope García de Castro, officially created several corregimientos across the viceroyalty. The corregimiento of La Plata was one of them.
Districts Under La Plata
By 1629, several smaller local districts, called indigenous corregimientos, were under the control of the corregimiento of La Plata. These included:
- Paria
- Carangas
- Cochabamba
- Porco
- Amparaes
- Misque
- Pocona
- Chichas
- Chayanta
- Atacama
- Los Lipes
See also
- Cerro Rico
- Potosí
- National Mint of Bolivia
