the city was founded before the inca empire when humans settled around the valley of the santa river and qillqay. its spanish occupation occurred in 1574 as a spanish-indigenous reducción. during the wars for the independence of peru, the whole city supported the liberating army with food and guns, earning the city the title of "noble and generous city" granted by simón bolívar. in 1970, 95% of the city was destroyed by an earthquake that damaged much of ancash region. 25,000 people died. the city received much foreign assistance from many countries. for this reason the city was named a capital of international friendship.