Map of Spain 15 Cm Square Badge

Asset ID: wov033 / Jennifer Thermes / Map of Spain New Spain , formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain (Spanish : Virreinato de Nueva España ), was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire , comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America . Its capital was Mexico City , formerly Tenochtitlan , capital of the Aztec Empire . New Spain was established following the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521, and at its greatest extent included much of North America south of Canada : all of present-day Mexico and Central America (except Panama ), most of the United States west of the Mississippi River and the Floridas . _x000D_ New Spain also included the Spanish East Indies (Philippine Islands , Mariana Islands , the Caroline Islands , Taiwan , and parts of the Moluccas ) and the Spanish West Indies (Cuba , Hispaniola with Haiti and the Dominican Republic , Puerto Rico , Jamaica , Cayman Islands , Trinidad , and the Bay Islands ). _x000D_ Administrative units included Las Californias (present-day Arizona , California , Nevada , Baja California , Baja California Sur , western Colorado, Utah and south Wyoming), Nueva Extremadura (including the present-day states of Coahuila and Texas ), Santa Fe de Nuevo México (including parts of Texas and New Mexico ) and Louisiana (including the western Mississippi river basin and the Missouri River basin). _x000D_ New Spain was the first of four viceroyalties created to govern Spain 's foreign colonies. New Spain was ruled by a viceroy in Mexico City who governed the various territories of New Spain on behalf of the King of Spain . The Viceroyalty of Peru was created in 1542 following the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire . In the 18th century the Viceroyalty of New Granada , and the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata were also created. This page is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, anyone associated with the topic.