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Carlos de Montúfar y Larrea-Zurbano (Quito, 2 November 1780 - Buga, 31 June 1816) was a South American soldier and nobleman who is considered to be one of the key liberators of what is now Ecuador; fighting alongside Simón Bolívar] and received the nickname 'El Caudillo' (En. 'The Leader').

Carlos was the third son of Juan Pío de Montúfar y Larrea, the second marquis of Salve Alegre and his second cousin Teresa de Larrea y Villavicencio. His father was a key figure in the independence movement which developed in Quito between 1809 and 1812, which was a precursor of the Independence of Ecuador.

He studied Philosophy and Humanities at the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino, from which he graduated in 1800. In 1802 he met the scientists and explorers Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland on their celebrated scientific journey. Carlos, 21 years of age, struck up a close friendship with Homboldt from their first meeting, accompanying him on the rest of the journey through Ecuador Peru, Mexico, the United Statesand Cuba and even on his return journey to Europe. Once in France, where they attended the coronation of Napoleon I as Emperor of France, Carlos departed for Spain and Humboldt for Berlin.

Death On 16 June 1816, Montúfar participated in the Batalla de la Cuchilla del Tambo, in which the independence fighters were defeated by the Spanish forces. During the battle, Montúfar was captured and condemned to death by the Spanish general Juan José de Sámano y Uribarri. He was shot in the back as a traitor in Buga on 31 July 1816.