audiencia

Institution of colonial Spanish America. Audiencias were originally high courts of appeal, nominally subject to a viceroy, but they widened their powers and became in effect general administrative boards. They went into decline in the 17th century and virtually disappeared in the 18th century with the introduction of the intendencia system.

Viceroys and audencias could work together as governments, but sometimes conflicts arose. The captaincy general of Venezuela and the presidency of Quito both had audencia status within the viceroyalty, or province, of New Granada. Within New Spain, the captaincy general of Guatemala had its own separate high courts.