Governorate of Cuba

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Governorate of Cuba
1511–1521
Banner of Castille under the Habsburgs
Flag
Coat of arms of Governorate of Cuba
Coat of arms
Islands and Mainland in the Ocean Sea at 1513
Islands and Mainland in the Ocean Sea at 1513
StatusGovernorate of Castile (Spanish Empire)
CapitalNuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa
Common languagesSpanish
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
List of Castilian monarchs 
Historical eraSpanish Empire
• Established
1511
• Incorporation to New Spain
1521
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Captaincy General of Santo Domingo
New Spain

Since the 16th century the island of Cuba had been under the control of the governor-captain general of Santo Domingo. The conquest of Cuba was organized in 1510 by the recently restored Viceroy of the Indies, Diego Colón, under the command of Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar, who became Cuba's first governor until his death in 1524.

Velázquez founded the city of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa in 1511 and convoked a general cabildo (a local government council) to govern Cuba, which was authorized by the king of Spain.

Hernán Cortés's Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was undertaken from Cuba. Cuba was incorporated in New Spain after the conquest of Mexico.

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