In this comprehensive historical study, Roscoe R. Hill explores the office of the adelantado in the Spanish colonial empire. He traces the evolution of this important position from its origins in medieval Spain to its role in the conquest of the Americas. Drawing on a wide range of primary sources, Hill provides an invaluable resource for historians and scholars of early modern colonialism. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.