Adelantado was a Governor-like military office held by the Spanish Conquistadores of the 16th and 17th centuries. The men that held this post were usually granted the government of the regions they were sent to in exchange of doing the initial explorations, settlements and pacification of the target area on behalf of the Crown. The term comes from por adelantado (Spanish: in advance, although translations stating one who goes before and/or the forward man are also found).

Adelantados represented the Kings of Castile, and from the reign of Ferdinand III until well into the 17th century they also held administrative powers over specific provinces and districts. Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Adelantado de Las Indias under King Philip II was perhaps the ablest and best remembered of these officials. Alonso Fernández de Lugo served as adelantado in the Canary Islands during the late fifteenth century.

See also

• Viceroy
• Audiencia
• Captaincy General

Gubernatorial titles | Spanish colonization of the Americas | Spanish colonial period in the Philippines

Adelantado | Adelantado