The city of Santiago de los Caballeros de Mérida is the capitol of Libertador County (Mérida, Venezuela) and of the state of the same name, Mérida. It is one of the most important cities in the venezuelan Ándes. Founded in 1558 by Juan Rodríguez Suárez, the city became the political capitol of the Gobernación de Mérida in 1622. The city and the Gobernación de Mérida were part of the Virreinato de Nueva Granada until 1777, year on which they became part of the Capitanía General de Venezuela. Mérida played an active role during the Venezuelan independence war.