Question: what was the capital of a large area of the spanish empire
Answer: Spanish Empire Imperio Español Imperium Hispanicum 1492 -- 1975 Flag Motto : `` Plus ultra '' ( Latin ) `` Further Beyond '' The areas of the world that at one time were territories of the Spanish Monarchy or Empire Capital Madrid ( de facto ; de jure since 1561 , except 1601 -- 06 ) ( Valladolid in 1601 -- 06 ) Common languages Spanish ( de facto ) Latin ( formal ) Italian , Sardinian , Aragonese , Asturian , Basque , Catalan , Galician , Quechua , Nahuatl , Zapotec , Maya and other indigenous languages Religion Catholic Church ( official and dominant ) Islam ( Crypto - Islam ) Inca religion Aztec religion Judaism ( Crypto - Judaism ) Government Composite monarchy ( Hapsburgs ) Absolute monarchy ( Bourbons ) King Conquest of the Can