Spanish settlement in Argentina
Encyclopedia
Spanish settlement in Argentina, that is the arrival of Spanish
emigrants in Argentina
, took place firstly in the period before Argentina's independence from Spain
, and again in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the Spanish Empire
was the sole colonial power in the territories that became Argentina after the 1816 Argentine declaration of independence
. Thus, before 1816, a great part of the European settlers in Argentina were from Spain, and they carried the Spanish colonial
administration, incluiding religious affairs, government, and commercial business. A substantial Spanish-descended Criollo
population gradually built up in the new cities, while some mixed with the indigenous populations (Mestizos), with the Black slave population
(Mulattoes), or with other European immigrants.
Since a great part of the immigrants to Argentina before the mid-19th century were of Spanish descent, and the fact that a significative part of the late-19th century/early-20th century immigrants to Argentina were Spaniards, many Argentinians are of at least some Spanish ancestry. However this prevalence, and the numerous shared cultural aspects between Argentina and Spain (the Spanish language
, Roman Catholicism, Criollo
/Hispanic
traditions), massive Immigration to Argentina
at the turn of the 20th century involved a majority of non-Spanish peoples from all over Europe, so the modern Argentine culture
is quite distinct from the traditional Spanish culture.
Spaniards would populate the area of Argentina, with some intermarrying with non-Spaniards. Spain
established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires
in 1580, although initial settlement was primarily overland from Peru
. The Spanish further integrated Argentina
into their vast empire by establishing the Vice Royalty of Rio de la Plata in 1776, and Buenos Aires
became a flourishing port. Argentina
would become a crucial part of the Spanish Empire
in South America
.
The Argentine independence movement would however drastically change Argentine-Spanish relations. The Argentine movement for independence from Spain
would in fact begin in the powerful city of Buenos Aires
on May 25, 1810, and the whole new country formally declaring independence from Spain
on July 9, 1816 in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán. Following the defeat of the Spanish, centralist and federalist groups waged a lengthy conflict between themselves to determine the future of the nation of Argentina
. Prior to its independence, Spaniards in Argentina
who were against the Spanish Empire
and desired their independence came to be known as Argentines, and those who were opposed to independence continued to be identified as Spaniards. But a few generations after independence, and particularly after recent immigration, most Argentines began to see themselves as purely Argentine out of pride in their new developing nation.
from all over Spain, after the creation of the modern Argentinian state. Between 1857 and 1960, more than 2.5 million Spanish people
emigrated to Argentina
, mostly from Galicia, the Basque Country
, Asturias
, Cantabria
, and Catalunya in northern Spain
, while significantly smaller numbers of immigrants also arrived from Andalusia
in southern Spain
.
Galicians make up 70% of the Spanish immigrant population in Argentina
. The city with the world's second largest number of Galician people
is Buenos Aires
, where immigration from Galicia was so profound that today all Spaniards, regardless of their origin within Spain
, are referred to as gallegos (Galicians
) in Argentina
.
Roughly 10-15% of the Argentine population are descended from Basque people
, both Spanish and French
, and are described as Basque Argentines. They gather in several Basque cultural centres in most of the large cities in the country.
.
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
emigrants in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, took place firstly in the period before Argentina's independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and again in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
was the sole colonial power in the territories that became Argentina after the 1816 Argentine declaration of independence
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
. Thus, before 1816, a great part of the European settlers in Argentina were from Spain, and they carried the Spanish colonial
Spanish colonization of the Americas
Colonial expansion under the Spanish Empire was initiated by the Spanish conquistadores and developed by the Monarchy of Spain through its administrators and missionaries. The motivations for colonial expansion were trade and the spread of the Christian faith through indigenous conversions...
administration, incluiding religious affairs, government, and commercial business. A substantial Spanish-descended Criollo
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
population gradually built up in the new cities, while some mixed with the indigenous populations (Mestizos), with the Black slave population
African immigration to Latin America
African immigrants to Latin America include citizens and residents of countries in Latin America who were born in, or with recent ancestors from Africa.-History:...
(Mulattoes), or with other European immigrants.
Since a great part of the immigrants to Argentina before the mid-19th century were of Spanish descent, and the fact that a significative part of the late-19th century/early-20th century immigrants to Argentina were Spaniards, many Argentinians are of at least some Spanish ancestry. However this prevalence, and the numerous shared cultural aspects between Argentina and Spain (the Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, Roman Catholicism, Criollo
Criollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
/Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
traditions), massive Immigration to Argentina
Immigration to Argentina
Immigration in Argentina, can be divided in several major stages:* Spanish colonization starting in the 16th century, integrating the indigenous inhabitants ....
at the turn of the 20th century involved a majority of non-Spanish peoples from all over Europe, so the modern Argentine culture
Culture of Argentina
The culture of Argentina is as varied as the country's geography and mix of ethnic groups. Modern Argentine culture has been largely influenced by European immigration although there are lesser elements of Amerindian and African influences, particularly in the fields of music and art...
is quite distinct from the traditional Spanish culture.
History
The interplay between Argentine and Spanish culture goes back a long way, and has historically been quite complex. Spanish settlements date back to 16th century, and from then on, many criolloCriollo people
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
Spaniards would populate the area of Argentina, with some intermarrying with non-Spaniards. Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
established a permanent colony on the site of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
in 1580, although initial settlement was primarily overland from Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. The Spanish further integrated Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
into their vast empire by establishing the Vice Royalty of Rio de la Plata in 1776, and Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
became a flourishing port. Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
would become a crucial part of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
The Argentine independence movement would however drastically change Argentine-Spanish relations. The Argentine movement for independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
would in fact begin in the powerful city of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
on May 25, 1810, and the whole new country formally declaring independence from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on July 9, 1816 in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán. Following the defeat of the Spanish, centralist and federalist groups waged a lengthy conflict between themselves to determine the future of the nation of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Prior to its independence, Spaniards in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
who were against the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
and desired their independence came to be known as Argentines, and those who were opposed to independence continued to be identified as Spaniards. But a few generations after independence, and particularly after recent immigration, most Argentines began to see themselves as purely Argentine out of pride in their new developing nation.
Recent immigration
During the 19th and 20th centuries, there would be an influx of Spanish immigrants to ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
from all over Spain, after the creation of the modern Argentinian state. Between 1857 and 1960, more than 2.5 million Spanish people
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
emigrated to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, mostly from Galicia, the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
, and Catalunya in northern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, while significantly smaller numbers of immigrants also arrived from Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
in southern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Galicians make up 70% of the Spanish immigrant population in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The city with the world's second largest number of Galician people
Galician people
The Galicians are an ethnic group, a nationality whose historical homeland is Galicia in north-western Spain. Most Galicians are bilingual, speaking both their historic language, Galician, and Castilian Spanish.-Political and administrative divisions:...
is Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, where immigration from Galicia was so profound that today all Spaniards, regardless of their origin within Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, are referred to as gallegos (Galicians
Galician people
The Galicians are an ethnic group, a nationality whose historical homeland is Galicia in north-western Spain. Most Galicians are bilingual, speaking both their historic language, Galician, and Castilian Spanish.-Political and administrative divisions:...
) in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Roughly 10-15% of the Argentine population are descended from Basque people
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
, both Spanish and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and are described as Basque Argentines. They gather in several Basque cultural centres in most of the large cities in the country.
Modern times
While there continues to be interest among the population in European affairs and their European heritage, few Argentines seek to imitate or spread modern Spanish culture in ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Figures
| Spanish net migration to Argentina from 1857 to 1976 | |
|---|---|
| Year period | Spanish immigrants |
| 1857–1860 | 1,819 |
| 1861–1870 | 15,567 |
| 1871–1880 | 24,706 |
| 1881–1890 | 134,492 |
| 1891–1900 | 73,551 |
| 1901–1910 | 488,174 |
| 1911–1920 | 181,478 |
| 1921–1930 | 232,637 |
| 1931–1940 | 11,286 |
| 1941–1950 | 110,899 |
| 1951–1960 | 98,801 |
| 1961–1970 | 9,514 |
| 1971–1976 | -2,784 |
| Total | 1,380,140 |
See also
- Criollo peopleCriollo peopleThe Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
- Argentine-Spanish relations
- History of argentine nationalityHistory of Argentine nationalityIdeas and practices of nationality and citizenship in the Republic of Argentina have changed with distinct periods of its history, including but not limited to periods of indigenous, colonial, republican, and military rule...
- White Latin Americans