The City of the Knights of Mérida celebrates its 467th birthday

Published at: 09/10/2025 09:11 AM

On October 9, 1558, the city of Santiago de Los Caballeros de Mérida was founded by Captain Juan Rodríguez Suárez, who was not authorized by the Spanish crown to populate and distribute land, however, he established this city with the name of his homeland.

He was an official from the city of Pamplona, whose mission was to explore the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to search for gold. In addition to subduing the Indians along the way, when circumstances so require. Due to the founding of Mérida, he was a fugitive for some time.

During colonial times, the city's growth was slow. Transfers to America were possible only with the authorization of the King of Spain, so immigration was almost impossible. At the beginning of the 17th century, the city's population numbered about 3,300 Aboriginal people and about 150 families of Spanish origin.

Mérida had several names: Mérida in Tierra de Jamuen, Ranchería de las Sierras Nevadas, San Juan de las Nieves and Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida.

When the republican system was established in 1831, it retained the name of Mérida.

Mazo News Team