New Granada, Viceroyalty

New Granada, Viceroyalty of

Spanish viceroyalty in northwestern South America during colonial times. The region was conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century and was initially subject to the Viceroyalty of Peru. It became a separate viceroyalty—first established temporarily in 1717, and later permanently in 1739— that included the modern countries of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Its capital was Santa Fé (modern Bogotá). It was liberated from Spain in 1823.