Corregimiento

Corregimiento (Spanish: [korexiˈmjento]; Catalan: Corregiment, IPA: [kurəʒiˈmen]) is a Spanish term used for country subdivisions for administrative purposes. The Corregimientos were usually led by a Corregidor helped by a lieutenant.

Historical Corregimientos

Corregimientos were found historically in:

Castile

In Old Castile Corregimientos existed since the 13th century and were the administrative divisions of the Junta General de las Siete Merindades de Castilla Vieja.^[1] After the Nueva Planta decrees under the rule of Philip V—the first Bourbon king of Spain, the Corregidor was replaced by an Intendant. Corregimientos in Castile existed until 1835, the year in which the municipal administration was reorganized under Queen Isabel II.^[2]

Crown of Aragon

In the territories of Aragon, Catalonia and the Land of Valencia^[3] formerly under the ancient Crown of Aragon, the Corregimiento (Catalan: Corregiment) replaced the former administrative divisions following the Nueva Planta decrees. However Corregimientos disappeared in this area during the French occupation being replaced by the territorial divisions of the French military rulers.^[4] Corregimientos were finally superseded following the territorial division of Spain in 1833.

Present-day Corregimientos

Colombia

The Corregimientos of Colombia are a smaller unit than the historical one. The word is used for the population centers that don't reach the level of municipality. They are thus under a municipality or a department.

Panama

The Corregimientos of Panama are district subdivisions. They are led by the Representante de Corregimiento.

See also

• Corregidor (position)

References

1. ^ Rafael Sánchez Domingo, Las merindades de Castilla Vieja y su Junta General, La Olmeda, Burgos, 1994 ISBN 8470094114
2. ^ Real Decreto de 23 de julio de 1835
3. ^ Vicent Giménez Chornet, Compte i raó: la hisenda municipal de la ciutat de València en el segle XVIII, Universitat de València, 2002, ISBN 9788437053998
4. ^ Eliseo Serrano Martín, El Matarraña y la Historia Moderna. Portal Aragon.