The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile

Kingdom of Chile

The General Captaincy of Chile or Gobernacion de Chile, was an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile...

. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General. There were 66 such governors or captains during the Spanish conquest and the later periods of Spanish-centered colonialism.

Governors of the Kingdom of Chile

Kingdom of Chile

The General Captaincy of Chile or Gobernacion de Chile, was an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of Peru in the Spanish Empire from 1541 to 1818, the year in which it declared itself independent, becoming the Republic of Chile...

 

Picture	Name	Entered Office	Exited Office	Notes	Appointed by
	Pedro de Valdivia Pedro de Valdivia Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first royal governor of Chile. After serving with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was sent to South America in 1534, where he served as lieutenant under Francisco Pizarro in Peru, acting as his second in command...	August 1540	December 1547		Charles V Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
	Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Velázquez was a Spanish conquistador, and three times governor of Chile.-Early life:Born at [Santervás de Campos], he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra, who were not married. For this reason he took the name of his mother...	December 1547	20 July 1549
	Pedro de Valdivia Pedro de Valdivia Pedro Gutiérrez de Valdivia or Valdiva was a Spanish conquistador and the first royal governor of Chile. After serving with the Spanish army in Italy and Flanders, he was sent to South America in 1534, where he served as lieutenant under Francisco Pizarro in Peru, acting as his second in command...	20 July 1549	25 December 1553	Killed at the Battle of Tucapel Battle of Tucapel The Battle of Tucapel is the name given to a battle fought between Spanish conquistador forces led by Pedro de Valdivia and Mapuche Indians under Lautaro that took place at Tucapel, Chile on December 25, 1553... .
	Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...	December 1553	February 1555
	Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Velázquez was a Spanish conquistador, and three times governor of Chile.-Early life:Born at [Santervás de Campos], he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra, who were not married. For this reason he took the name of his mother...
	Francisco de Aguirre Francisco de Aguirre (conquistador) Francisco de Aguirre was a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.-Early life:...
	Cabildos of Chile Cabildo (council) For a discussion of the contemporary Spanish and Latin American cabildo, see Ayuntamiento.A cabildo or ayuntamiento was a former Spanish, colonial administrative council that governed a municipality. Cabildos were sometimes appointed, sometimes elected, but were considered to be representative of...	February 1555	May 1556	The cities of Chile governed themselves while the dispute over the governorship was settled by the Real Audiencia in Lima.
	Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Velázquez was a Spanish conquistador, and three times governor of Chile.-Early life:Born at [Santervás de Campos], he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra, who were not married. For this reason he took the name of his mother...	May 1556	April 1557		Philip II Philip II of Spain Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
	García Hurtado de Mendoza	April 1557	February 1561
	Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Francisco de Villagra Velázquez was a Spanish conquistador, and three times governor of Chile.-Early life:Born at [Santervás de Campos], he was the son of Alvaro de Sarría and Ana Velázquez de Villagra, who were not married. For this reason he took the name of his mother...	February 1561	June 1563
	Pedro de Villagra Pedro de Villagra Pedro de Villagra y Martínez was a Spanish soldier who participated in the conquest of Chile, being appointed its Royal Governor between 1563 and 1565....	June 1563	June 1565
	Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...	June 1565	August 1567
	Real Audiencia of Chile Real Audiencia of Chile Royal Audience of Santiago :-Structure:Law XII of Title XV of Book II of the Recopilación de Leyes de las Indias of 1680—which reproduces Philip IV's decree of February 17, 1609—describes the limits and functions of the Audiencia.In the city of Santiago de Chile shall...	August 1567	August 1568
	Melchor Bravo de Saravia Melchor Bravo de Saravia Melchor Bravo de Saravia y Sotomayor was a Spanish conquistador, interim viceroy of Peru, and Royal Governor of Chile.-Early career:...	August 1568	January 1575
	Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga Rodrigo de Quiroga López de Ulloa was a Spanish conquistador of Galician origin. He was twice the Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...	January 1575	February 1580
	Martín Ruiz de Gamboa Martín Ruiz de Gamboa Martín Ruiz de Gamboa de Berriz was a Spanish Basque conquistador, and served as a Royal Governor of Chile.-Early years:He was born in Durango, Biscay, the son of Andrés Ruiz de Gamboa and Nafarra de Berriz, and served as a youth in the royal navy in the Levant...	February 1580	July 1583
	Alonso de Sotomayor Alonso de Sotomayor Alonso de Sotomayor y Valmediano was a Spanish conquistador from Extremadura, and a Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:He was born in Trujillo, in the province of Extremadura, the son of Gutiérrez de Sotomayor e Hinojosa and Beatriz de Valmediano...	September 1583	July 1592
	Pedro de Viscarra Pedro de Viscarra Pedro de Viscarra de la Barrera, twice Royal Governor of Chile, was an old lawyer who had arrived in the Kingdom of Chile from Spain in 1590. Alonso de Sotomayor went to Peru on July 30, 1592 to petition the viceroy there for more men leaving Pedro de Viscarra with the title of lieutenant governor...	July 1592	October 1592
	Martín García Óñez de Loyola Martín García Óñez de Loyola Don Martín García Óñez de Loyola was a Spanish Basque soldier and Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...	October 1592	December 1598	Killed at the Disaster of Curalaba Disaster of Curalaba The Disaster of Curalaba is the name given to a battle between Spanish conquerors led by Martín García Óñez de Loyola and Mapuche people led by Pelantaru on a place called Curalaba , in southern Chile...
	Pedro de Viscarra de la Barrera Pedro de Viscarra Pedro de Viscarra de la Barrera, twice Royal Governor of Chile, was an old lawyer who had arrived in the Kingdom of Chile from Spain in 1590. Alonso de Sotomayor went to Peru on July 30, 1592 to petition the viceroy there for more men leaving Pedro de Viscarra with the title of lieutenant governor...	December 1598	May 1599		Philip III Philip III of Spain Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
	Francisco de Quiñónez Francisco de Quiñónez Francisco de Quiñónez ; Spanish soldier who was appointed as governor of Chile for thirteen months, between May 1599 and June 1600....	May 1599	July 1600
	Alonso García de Ramón Alonso García de Ramón Alonso García de Ramón was a Spanish soldier and twice Royal Governor of Chile: first temporarily from July of 1600 to February of 1601, and then from March of 1605 to August of 1610. He was born in Cuenca, Spain in 1552....	July 1600	February 1601
	Alonso de Ribera de Pareja	February 1601	March 1605
	Alonso García de Ramón Alonso García de Ramón Alonso García de Ramón was a Spanish soldier and twice Royal Governor of Chile: first temporarily from July of 1600 to February of 1601, and then from March of 1605 to August of 1610. He was born in Cuenca, Spain in 1552....	March 1605	September 1607
	Luis Merlo de la Fuente Ruiz de Beteta	September 1607	January 1611
	Juan Jaraquemada Juan de la Jaraquemada Juan de la Jaraquemada, ; Spanish soldier, designated by the viceroy of Peru Juan de Mendoza y Luna, Marquess of Montesclaros, Captain General and Governor of Chile, and president of the Real Audiencia of Santiago. He served from of January 1, 1611 to March 27, 1612....	January 1611	March 1612
	Alonso de Ribera de Pareja	March 1612	March 1617
	Fernando Talaverano Gallegos Fernando Talaverano Gallegos Fernando Talaverano Gallegos, also known as Hernando Talaverano ; lawyer and Spanish administrator, occupied the position of temporary governor of Chile for ten months after the death of Alonso de Ribera, between March of 1617 and January of 1618.-Sources:...	March 1617	January 1618
	Lope de Ulloa y Lemos Lope de Ulloa y Lemos Lope de Ulloa y Lemos, ; Spanish soldier designated by the viceroy of Peru Francisco de Borja y Aragón, Prince of Esquilache, carried out the position of Captain General and Governor of Chile, and president the Real Audiencia of Chile...	January 1618	December 1620
	Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor, ; Spanish Oidor, lawyer of the Real Audiencia of Chile. Before the death of governor Lope de Ulloa y Lemos, assumed the temporary government of Chile for eleven months, between December of 1620 and November of 1621.-Sources:...	December 1620	November 1621
	Pedro Osores de Ulloa Pedro Osores de Ulloa Pedro Osores de Ulloa was Royal Governor of the Kingdom of Chile from November 1621 to September 1624. He replaced Cristóbal de la Cerda y Sotomayor. On his death bed Osores appointed his brother-in-law Francisco de Álava y Nureña as temporary governor of the Kingdom of Chile on September 1624...	November 1621	September 1624		Philip IV Philip IV of Spain Philip IV was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640...
	Francisco de Álava y Nureña Francisco de Álava y Nureña Francisco de Alava y Nureña, was the brother-in-law of the Governor of Chile, Pedro Osores de Ulloa. He was designated as temporary governor of the Kingdom of Chile by Osores on his death bed on September 1624...	September 1624	May 1625
	Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Arce Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Arce Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Arce was a Spanish sailor and military man who was Governor of Chile between May 1625 and December 1629.A Spanish noble gentleman of El Carpio, in the Province of Cordova and member of an influential family, Luis Fernandez de Cordoba y Arce made his military career in...	May 1625	December 1629
	Francisco Laso de la Vega Francisco Laso de la Vega Francisco Laso de la Vega y Alvarado was a Spanish soldier who served as Royal Governor of Chile from December of 1629 to May of 1639. Victor in many battles against the Mapuche in the Arauco War....	December 1629	May 1639
	Francisco López de Zúñiga 2nd Marquis of Baides	May 1639	May 1646
	Martín de Mujica y Buitrón Martín de Mujica y Buitrón Martin de Mujica y Buitrón, also known as Martin de Mogica or Muxica ; Spanish Basque military man who was named by king Philip IV of Spain, to be Captain General and Royal Governor of Chile, besides president of its Real Audiencia. His government was from May 1646 and April 1649, when he died,...	May 1646	April 1649
	Alonso de Figueroa y Córdoba Alonso de Figueroa y Córdoba Alonso de Figueroa y Cordova ; Spanish soldier who, in the days of the reign of Philip IV of Spain, temporarily carried out the position of Captain General and Royal Governor of Chile, besides president of its Real Audiencia of Chile. His government lasted for 13 months, between April 1649 and...	April 1649	May 1650
	Francisco Antonio de Acuña Cabrera y Bayona Francisco Antonio de Acuña Cabrera y Bayona Francisco Antonio de Acuña Cabrera y Bayona Spanish, soldier and governor of the Kingdom of Chile between 1650-1656. He was son of Antonio de Cabrera y Acuña y de Agueda de Bayona, was a knight of the Order of Santiago and a professional military man...	May 1650	January 1656
	Pedro Porter Casanate Pedro Porter Casanate Admiral Pedro Porter y Casanate was a Spanish sailor, soldier, explorer of California and Royal Governor of Chile from 1656 to 1662.-Early life:...	January 1656	February 1662
	Diego González Montero Justiniano Diego González Montero Justiniano Diego González Montero Justiniano was interim Royal Governor of Chile twice, from February to May 1662 following the death of Pedro Porter Casanate and again from February to October 1670 succeeding the Diego Dávila, 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende until the arrival of Juan Henríquez de...	February 1662	May 1662
	Ángel de Peredo Ángel de Peredo Ángel de Peredo was born in 1623, in the small town of Queveda in Cantabria, Spain, and was a Knight of the Order of Santiago.He was the President of the Real Audiencia of Chile and then temporary Royal Governor of Chile from May 1662 to February of 1664...	May 1662	January 1664
	Francisco de Meneses Brito Francisco de Meneses Brito Francisco de Meneses Brito was Royal Governor of Chile between 1664 and 1667.-Sources:...	January 1664	1667
	Diego Dávila Coello y Pacheco 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende Diego Dávila, 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende Diego Dávila Coello y Pacheco, 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende, 17th Lord of Cardiel, El Bodón, Montalvo, El Hito and of Villar de Cañas was a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Chile from March 19, 1667 to February 18, 1670.-Sources:...	1667	February 1670		Charles II Charles II of Spain Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
	Diego González Montero Justiniano Diego González Montero Justiniano Diego González Montero Justiniano was interim Royal Governor of Chile twice, from February to May 1662 following the death of Pedro Porter Casanate and again from February to October 1670 succeeding the Diego Dávila, 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende until the arrival of Juan Henríquez de...	February 1670	October 1670
	Juan Henríquez de Villalobos Juan Henríquez de Villalobos Juan Henríquez de Villalobos ; Spanish soldier and administrator who, after participation in various European wars, was designated as governor of Chile by Mariana of Austria. In this position, between October 1670 and April 1682, he became, according to Chilean historiography, the epítome of the...	October 1670	April 1682
	Marcos José de Garro Senei de Artola	April 1682	January 1692
	Tomás Marín de Poveda 1st Marquis of Cañada Hermosa	January 1692	December 1700
	Francisco Ibáñez de Segovia y Peralta	December 1700	February 1709		Philip V Philip V of Spain Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
	Juan Andrés de Ustariz Juan Andrés de Ustariz Juan Andrés de Ustariz de Vertizberea was a Royal Governor of Chile during the early 18th century.-Sources:...	February 1709	December 1716
	José de Santiago Concha y Salvatierra	December 1716	17 December 1717
	Gabriel Cano y Aponte	17 December 1717	11 November 1733
	Francisco de Sánchez de la Barreda Francisco de Sánchez de la Barreda Francisco Sánchez de la Barreda y Vera. ; Spanish attorney and colonial administrator. Being the oldest member of the Real Audiencia of Chile made him become governor of Chile when Gabriel Cano died...	11 November 1733	May 1734
	Manuel Silvestre de Salamanca Cano Manuel Silvestre de Salamanca Cano Manuel Silvestre de Salamanca Cano was governor of the Kingdom of Chile between March 1734 and November 1737.He was the nephew of the earlier governor Gabriel Cano de Aponte and was the Maestro de Campo of its government. He was married in Concepcion to Isabel de Zabala....	May 1734	November 1737
	José Antonio Manso de Velasco Count of Superunda	November 1737	June 1744
	Francisco José de Ovando 1st Marquis of Brindisi	June 1745	March 1746
	Domingo Ortíz de Rosas 1st Marquis of Poblaciones	25 March 1746	28 December 1755		Ferdinand VI Ferdinand VI of Spain Ferdinand VI , called the Learnt, was King of Spain from 9 July 1746 until his death. He was the fourth son of the previous monarch Philip V and his first wife Maria Luisa of Savoy...
	Manuel de Amat y Juniet Manuel de Amat y Juniet Felipe Manuel Cayetano de Amat y de Juniet was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator. He was the Royal Governor of the Captaincy General of Chile from December 28, 1755 to September 9, 1761, and Viceroy of Peru from October 12, 1761 to July 17, 1776.-Origins and military...	28 December 1755	9 September 1761
	Félix de Berroeta Félix de Berroeta Félix de Berroeta was appointed as interim Royal Governor of Chile between September 1761 and October 1762 during the reign of Charles III of Spain....	September 1761	October 1762		Charles III Charles III of Spain Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
	Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga was a Spanish colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Panama and Royal Governor of Chile.-Arauco War:...	October 1762	August 1768
	Juan de Balmaseda Juan de Balmaseda y Censano Beltrán Juan de Balmaseda y Censano Beltrán , interim Royal Governor of Chile.Son of Pedro de Balmaceda and Angela Zenzano; lawyer of the Consejos de Espana, named an oidor of Chile in 1739, which became permanent November 28, 1742. As time went on he was given additional offices...	August 1768	March 1770
	Francisco Javier de Morales Francisco Javier de Morales y Castejón de Arrollo Francisco Javier de Morales y Castejón de Arrollo was a Spanish soldier and interim governor of Chile from March 1770 to March 1772.- Sources :* Diego Barros Arana, Vicuña Mackenna, Carlos Tomás, ** Parte Quinta Capitulo IIX pg. 316-338...	March 1770	March 1772

Governors and Captain-Generals of Chile

Picture	Name	Entered Office	Exited Office	Notes	Appointed by
	Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa	March 1772	July 1780		Charles III Charles III of Spain Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
	Tomás Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz Tomás Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz Tomás Antonio Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz was a Spanish colonial administrator who twice served as interim Royal Governor of Chile, first in 1780 and again between 1787 and 1788.-Sources:...	July 1780	December 1780
	Ambrosio de Benavides Ambrosio de Benavides Ambrosio de Benavides Medina Liñán y Torres was a Spanish colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Puerto Rico, Royal Governor of Charcas and Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...	December 1780	April 1787
	Tomás Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz Tomás Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz Tomás Antonio Álvarez de Acevedo Ordaz was a Spanish colonial administrator who twice served as interim Royal Governor of Chile, first in 1780 and again between 1787 and 1788.-Sources:...	April 1787	May 1788

Appointed by Charles IV

Charles IV of Spain

Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...

 

• Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno
  Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno
  Ambrosio Bernardo O'Higgins, 1st Marquis of Osorno born Ambrose Bernard O'Higgins , was a member of the O'Higgins family and an Irish-born Spanish colonial administrator...
  
  : (May 1788 - May 1796)
• José de Rezabal y Ugarte: (May 1796 - September 1796)
• Gabriel de Avilés, 2nd Marquis of Avilés: (18 September 1796 - 21 January 1799)
• Joaquín del Pino Sánchez de Rojas
  Joaquín del Pino
  Joaquín del Pino Sánchez de Rojas Romero y Negrete , was a Spanish military engineer and politician, who held various positions in the South American colonial administration.-Early life:...
  
  : (January 1799 - April 1801)
• José de Santiago Concha Jiménez Lobatón
  José de Santiago Concha Jiménez Lobatón
  José de Santiago Concha Jiménez Lobatón was interim Governor of Chile from April 1801 to December 1801. Before and after his governorship, he served as Oidor of the Real Audiencia of Santiago between 1795 and 1811 and from 1815 to 1818....
  
  : (April 1801 - December 1801)
• Francisco Tadeo Diez de Medina Vidanges: (December 1801 - January 1802)
• Luis Muñoz de Guzmán
  Luis Muñoz de Guzmán
  Luis Muñoz de Guzmán was a Spanish colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Quito and Royal Governor of Chile.-Sources:...
  
  : (January 1802 - February 1808)

Appointed by Ferdinand VII 

• Juan Rodríguez Ballesteros: (February 1808 - April 1808)
• Francisco Antonio García Carrasco Díaz
  Francisco Antonio García Carrasco
  Francisco Antonio García Carrasco Díaz was a Spanish soldier and Royal Governor of Chile. His political relations with Juan Martinez de Rozas and a smuggling scandal involving the frigate Scorpion destroyed what little authority he had, and required that he surrender his post to Mateo de Toro...
  
  : (April 1808 - July 1810)
• Mateo de Toro Zambrano, 1st Count of la Conquista: (July 1810 - September 1810)

Period of the Reconquista Española: Governors and Captain-Generals (in opposition)

• José Antonio Pareja: (12 December 1812 - 21 May 1813)
• Juan Francisco Sánchez: (21 May 1813 - 1 January 1814)
• Gabino Gaínza y Fernández de Medrano
  Gabino Gaínza
  Gabino or Gavino Gaínza y Fernández de Medrano was a Spanish military officer and politician in Spain's American colonies. During the Latin American wars of independence, he initially fought on the royalist side, in Chile...
  
  : (1 January 1814 - 19 July 1814)
• Mariano Osorio
  Mariano Osorio
  Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Governor of Chile, from 1814 to 1815.-Early career:Osorio was born in Seville, Spain. He joined the Spanish army and as many of his contemporaries, his military career began during the Spanish Peninsular War in 1808 as an artillery general, as well as...
  
  : (19 July 1814 - 26 December 1815)
• Francisco Marcó del Pont Ángel Díaz y Méndez: (26 December 1815 - 12 February 1817)
• Mariano Osorio
  Mariano Osorio
  Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Governor of Chile, from 1814 to 1815.-Early career:Osorio was born in Seville, Spain. He joined the Spanish army and as many of his contemporaries, his military career began during the Spanish Peninsular War in 1808 as an artillery general, as well as...
  
  : (4 January 1818 - 5 April 1818)