It was founded in 1558 by Captain Juan Rodríguez Suárez, forming part of Nueva Granada, but later became part of the Captaincy General of Venezuela and played an active role in the War of Independence.
Osnovan je 1558. godine kada je tvorio dio Nueva Granade, a kasnije je postao dio Generalne kapetanije Venezuele i igrao važnu ulogu u Ratu za nezavisnost.