About: Military of New Spain

The Military of New Spain played an insignificant role during the 17th century. The new Mexican society growing on the ruins left by the conquest was peaceful. A very limited number of regular troops, a couple of companies, were enough to keep the peace. The defense against external enemies was based on a limited number of fortified port cities. Spanish conflicts with the Kingdom of Great Britain during the 18th century changed this. The Bourbon Reforms meant sending regular troops from Spain to New Spain, raising several colonial line infantry regiments, and creating a local militia that also included former slaves. The Northern frontier was the exception to the peacefulness of Mexico, with constant warfare with the nomadic Native Americans.