Pamplona Norte de Santander Colombia

Spanish Basque soldier Pedro de Ursúa, after serving a three-year term as governor of Bogotá, in present Colombia, founds the city of Pamplona, which he governs from its inception on November 1, 1549.

De Ursúa and the city’s co-founder, Ortún Velasco, reduce the native settlers, called Chitareros by the Spanish, to the regime of encomiendas.

Around one hundred groups or capitanejos are distributed in fifty-three encomiendas through the region.

The town's location will allow it to become an important commercial route between the New Granada and Venezuela.

Blessed with great fertility and auriferous deposits in the mountains, Pamplona is to become one of the richest territories of the colony.

...Pamplona the next day, and ...