Adelantado was a Governor-like position held by the Spanish Conquistadores but the men that held such a post were usually granted the government of the regions they were sent to in exchange of doing the initial military expeditions, settlement and pacification of the area on behalf of the Crown. The term comes from por adelantado (Spanish: in advance, translations stating one who goes before or the forward man are also found).
Adelantados represented the Kings of Castile, and since the reign of Ferdinand III until well into the 16th century, they also held administrative powers over specific provinces and districts. Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Adelantado under King Philip II was perhaps the ablest and best remembered of these officials.
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