insulares

Insulares is a historical term used within the Spanish Empire to designate people of Iberian origin who resided in overseas territories, particularly Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula. In many sources the term is used interchangeably with peninsulares, though some scholars note nuanced distinctions: insulares may be used to refer to Spaniards living in the colonies, while peninsulares can be reserved for those born in Spain who relocated to the colonies. Regardless of terminology, the category described a segment of the colonial elite.

Historically, insulares often held high-ranking civil, military, and ecclesiastical positions and controlled important administrative and economic networks in the colonies. They generally enjoyed privileges in governance, taxation, and church appointments that set them apart from locally born Spaniards and other social groups such as criollos (people of Spanish descent born in the Americas), mestizos, and indigenous populations. This privileged position contributed to social tensions within colonial societies and fed resentment among creole populations seeking greater political influence and economic rights.

Regional variations and evolving political contexts shaped how insulares operated within the empire. In many regions, tensions between insulares and creoles helped fuel movements toward greater local autonomy and, ultimately, independence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The use of the term declined after independence as new nations reorganized their political hierarchies and reduced reliance on European-born officials. Today, insulares is primarily of historical interest for understanding colonial social structure and governance.