The former territory where Nuevo León is now situated was discovered and populated by Europeans at the end of the 16th century.

Phillip II of Spain signed a covenant referring to the birth of a new kingdom in the New World; it was May 31st, 1579.

To map out the new kingdom of León, the crown used the information provided by Captain Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva, who discovered, pacified and populated the region and was its first governor.

On September 20th, 1596, accompanied by twelve families, Don Diego de Montemayor founded the city of Nuestra Señora de Monterrey by the Santa Lucía springs.

The name was a homage to Gaspar de Zúñiga y Acevedo, Count of Monterrey and Viceroy of New Spain, who named Montemayor as governor on February 11th, 1599.