Who were individuals born in Spain living in the Americas, often in high social and political positions?

Individuals born in Spain who lived in the Americas are referred to as Peninsulares. They occupied high social and political positions, especially during the colonial period, due to their direct ties to the Spanish crown and their perceived cultural superiority. As representatives of Spain, Peninsulares often held the most important administrative roles, military commands, and ecclesiastical offices, reinforcing the hierarchical structure of colonial society. Their status was distinctly different from Criollos, who were of Spanish descent but born in the Americas, as well as from Indigenous Peoples and Mestizos, who had mixed ancestry or were native to the lands. This distinction played a significant role in shaping social dynamics and power relations in the colonies.