The Spanish named the Valle de Upar (Valley
of Upar) after a legendary local Amerindiancacique, Upar, leader of the Native
American Chimilas. The region was first explored by Pedro de Badillo. It
was conquered in 1532 by the German Ambrosius Ehinger, governor of
Venezuela, who invaded the area belonging to the government of Santa Marta. The
city was founded in 1550 by the Spanish conquistador, Captain Hernando de
Santana, who named it. The Catholic Church commonly referred to the city as Ciudad
de los Santos Reyes de Valle de Upar (city of the holy kings of
Valledupar)
