It corresponded roughly to the current Venezuelan state of Anzoátegui, and it shared similarities with the short-lived New Catalonia Province (1633–1654), founded by Joan Orpí. Like Orpí's province, its capital city was New Barcelona, founded by Orpí.
Following the Federal War it became Barcelona State in 1864. In 1909, it was renamed to Anzoátegui, in honor of José Antonio Anzoátegui.