Audiencia de los Confines
Quick Summary
The Audiencia de los Confines was a significant governmental institution in Spanish colonial Central America. Established in 1543, it unified the isthmus from Tabasco and Yucatán to Panama under a single royal order, with its capital initially in Gracias, Honduras. This court served as both an administrative and judicial tribunal, tasked with administering royal justice and hearing complaints against executive officers to curb abuses of power.123
The Audiencia de los Confines was also charged with safeguarding the rights of Indigenous peoples, dedicating specific days to hear their cases. Appeals from its decisions could be made to the Council of the Indies in Madrid. The capital was later moved to Santiago de Guatemala, and the jurisdiction of the Audiencia was adjusted over time.21
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