New Spain was the name given to
Central America, the
Caribbean, and the southern
United States back when they were ruled by
Spain. It was one of four Spanish
viceroyalties in the Americas, along with
New Granada,
New Castilia, and
Rio de la Plata. It was established in
1518.
New Spain's capital was in Mexico City, and there were regional capitals in Guadalajara, Guatemala City, and Santo Domingo. Most of New Spain became independent in 1821, but the last stragglers in the Greater Antilles were part of New Spain until the U.S. won them in the Spanish-American War of 1898.