Caracas City Day, Venezuela

July 25, 1567 Diego de Lozada founded the city of Caracas, the future administrative, economic and commercial capital of Venezuela. The original name given to the city by the Spanish explorer was Santiago de León de Caracas.

Diego de Lozada y Cabeza de Vaca was a conquistador from Zamora who, like many other compatriots, crossed the Atlantic in search of wealth and fame. His first destination was Puerto Rico. From there he went to Venezuela, where he was involved in several clashes between Spanish rulers and adventurers for control of newly discovered lands. In 1565 he received a difficult assignment: to subdue the fearsome Indians of Caracas, whom no soldier could defeat. Despite the great hostility of the Caribbean Indians, Lozada was able to fortify several settlements in the Caracas Valley. A year later the Spanish conquistador won a major victory over the local chief Tiuna at the Battle of Maracapan. His next objective was the destruction of the Guaicaipuro. This allowed him to settle central Venezuela unhindered. Diego de Lozada died in 1569 near Borburata.