Spain ruled Mexico before it became independent.

Quick Scoop: Who ruled Mexico before independence?

Before Mexico became an independent country in 1821, the territory was a colony of Spain for about 300 years, officially known as the Viceroyalty of New Spain.

  • Spain conquered the Aztec Empire in the early 1500s and set up colonial rule centered in Mexico City (formerly Tenochtitlan).
  • From the mid‑1500s until 1821, Spanish viceroys governed the region on behalf of the Spanish Crown.
  • The independence movement began in 1810, led first by Miguel Hidalgo and later by leaders like JosĂ© MarĂ­a Morelos and AgustĂ­n de Iturbide.
  • In 1821, after years of war and political crisis in Spain, Mexico finally secured its independence from Spanish rule.

So if you’re answering the question “which country ruled Mexico before it became independent,” the clear answer is: Spain.

After independence, Mexico briefly became the First Mexican Empire before transitioning into a republic, but that was already an independent Mexican state, not foreign rule.

TL;DR: Mexico was ruled by Spain (as New Spain) until it won independence in 1821.