Military of New Spain

The indigenous population was unarmed and the few popular uprisings could easily be defeated and posed no serious threat to Spanish power.

In the interior of Mexico, there were only a couple of regular companies, which in the event of disruptions could be strengthened with levies from the merchant, haciendados, and artisan classes.

On the west coast, there were no serious threats and the small Fort of San Diego in Acapulco, the port of call for the Manila galleon, was enough to meet all foreseeable contingencies.

However, New Spain never came under any significant threat of capture by any foreign nation, and thus continued under Spanish rule peacefully until the Mexican war of Independence.

[2] [3] The main goal of the Bourbon reforms in New Spain was to strengthen its defensive capabilities, although it led to significant social and political changes.

The lack of suitable criollo recruits in some areas led the Spanish military authorities to organize militia units of pardos and morenos.

They were garrisoned by a special type of soldiers, the soldados de cuera, whose equipment was adapted to Native American warfare.

[4][5][6][7][8] Presidios and their strength in the several provinces: Bejar, 23 Junta de los Ríos, 50 Janos, 51 Guajoquilla, 51 Rio Grande.