King Philip II of Spain gave Guadalajara de Buga its city status officially at the end of the 16th century and also granted its coat of arms for the many services rendered to the crown. During colonial era, Buga was in the Royal Audience of Quito, initially part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and from 1739 until the creation of the Republic of La Gran Colombia, part of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. After the dissolution of the Gran Colombia, it became part of the Republic of Nueva Granada (modern-day Colombia, since the newly created Ecuador, successor of the Royal Audience of Quito, did not summon representatives from Cauca to its first congress.