The first group of Spanish to discover what is now Antioquia Department was headed by Spanish conqueror
Rodrigo de Bastidas who entered through the
Darién region in 1500. Ten years later the Spanish conqueror
Alonso de Ojeda entered with another group of Spanish conquerors and founded the village of
San Sebastián de Urabá which function as a "business center" for the Spanish, this village was substituted later in duties with the village of
Panama because of the constant attacks that received from the indigenous tribes. San Sebastian de Uraba ruins are now located within the municipality of
Necoclí, Antioquia Department. The first incursions inland by the Spanish in what is now Antioquia did not start until 1536, when
Jorge Robledo, Captain and Marshal of the
Spanish monarchy organized an expedition by orders of the monarchy in 1541 and went to discover the
Valley of Aburrá and founded the village of Antioquia, but after a few changes was finally settled in 1546 on what is now the village of
Santa Fe de Antioquia. The Spanish ignored the terrain and vegetation while the indigenous tribes became their enemies, clashing in numerous battles, after the Spanish attacked them. The territory of present-day Antioquia was baptized as
Province of Antioquia and pertained to the
Spanish Empire. Its first governorship was created by order of the King of Spain in 1569. In 1675 the settlement of
Medellín was proclaimed a village by the then governor of the province of Antioquia, captain general and governor Don Miguel de Aguinaga. The last governor before the Independence from Spain was Don Francisco de Ayala. == Mon y Velarde: Reformer of Antioquia ==