The National University of San Marcos (, UNMSM) is a public research university in Lima, the capital of Peru. Also known as the "University of Peru" and the ""Dean University of the Americas"", it is the first officially established (privilege by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas. Since its foundation, it was commonly referred as the "Royal and Pontifical University of the City of the Kings of Lima" until the Viceroyalty period and as of now, it is referred to as "Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos" or "La Decana de América".