lesser adelantado
Quick Summary
The term "lesser adelantado" refers to a specific type of Spanish governor in the early Middle Ages. The word "adelantado" itself means "one who goes before" in Spanish.12
Lesser adelantados, also known as "frontier adelantados," held judicial and administrative powers over districts, often along the frontiers. They played a significant role in the military conquest of the Americas. Their duties were similar to those of greater adelantados, who served as appeal judges and organized armies during wartime. By the 16th century, the office of adelantado was replaced by that of the alcalde, or magistrate.1
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.