Abstract
This contribution investigates the significance of loyalty to the Spanish Crown as a link between local level governance, viceroyalties, and the European metropolis, a link that was supposed to stabilize the Colonial Empire. The article analyzes connections to the related concepts of fidelity and trust by parsing out their use in original sources from the General Archive of the Indies (Seville, Spain) and by applying perspectives from social theory. Throughout the text, examples are given to illustrate the importance of loyalty for relations between Indians, colonists, royal officials, and the Spanish king. Stemming from various regions of the Spanish Empire, such asMexico, the Andes and the Philippines, the archival material investigated goes beyond the colonial era, covering the early phase of independence in the 19th century as well. In conclusion, the reciprocal aspect of loyalty is highlighted, obligating the monarch as much as the subjects to serve one another.
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