The Peruvian capital of Lima is located in the valleys of the Chillon, Rimac and Lurin rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535, as la Ciudad de los Reyes, or "the City of Kings". After the Peruvian War of Independence, it became the capital of the Republic of Peru. Today, around one-third of the Peruvian population lives in the metropolitan area.