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Council of the Indies
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Quick Facts
Spanish:
Consejo De Indias
Date:
1524 - 1834
Areas Of Involvement:
Western colonialism
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Council of the Indies

Spanish history
Also known as: Consejo de Indias
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
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History

Council of the Indies, supreme governing body of Spain’s colonies in America (1524–1834). Composed of between 6 and 10 councillors appointed by the king, the council prepared and issued all legislation governing the colonies in the king’s name, approved all important acts and expenditures by colonial officials, and acted as a court of last resort in civil suits appealed from colonial courts. It lost much of its importance in the 18th century.