Caracas was founded 458 years ago under the patronage of Santiago Apóstol

The city of Caracas, capital of Venezuela, celebrates the 458th anniversary of its foundation. However, despite having more than four centuries of history, many people – within and outside the country – do not know that the city is under the patronage of Santiago el Mayor, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.

On July 25, 1567, the Spanish conqueror Diego de Losada founded a settlement that over time would become the capital and main city of Venezuela, with the name of Santiago de León de Caracas.

On July 25, the Universal Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the first of the Apostles in dying because of Christ, hence Losada decided to name the city in his honor.

According to H. nectario María (1888-1986), Religious of French origin belonging to the Lasallista Order and outstanding researcher in Venezuelan history, that day of July the Spanish Losada “having recognized the entire earth, and the best sites of the (sic)” chose “by site for the purpose of founding and populating the city, a famous fertile and enjoyable valley, called Caracas.”

The valley received its name from the indigenous tribe dominated the area. “After having with the cruel barbarians reunions and battles, seen that they could not resist the value of the Spaniards, they gave him the obedience of Santiago, and thus founded the city this day, and named him Santiago de León,” adds brother Lasallista in Chapter XIV of his work History of the conquest and foundation of Caracasciting an illustrious historian of the Venezuelan colonial era.

“It cannot be doubted that Losada imposed the name of ‘Santiago’ to honor the Holy Apostle, Patron of Spain, and of all his warrior companies,” says H. Nectaria Maria.

However, at the same time it states that in the Spanish province of León there was the order of the “Knights of Santiago de León”, founded in 1161 by twelve local knights, dedicated to protecting the pilgrims, who went to Compostela to venerate the great apostle, of the attacks of the Muslim invaders.

According to the historian, “it seems logical to deduce” that the memory of this order of the homeland of Losada has also been able to influence the name of the city that would found.

“From the Catholic Monarchs, the title of ‘Caballero de Santiago de León’ was only honorary, highly estimated and desired of the Leonese nobility of those times,” explains H. nectarium Maria. “They were very honored to be members of this chivalrous order,” he adds.