Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese in 1565, when the commander Estacio de Sa established a fortified settlement between the Sugarloaf and Cara de Cao hills on Guanabara Bay. It was named Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro, after the Portuguese king, Sebastian. The Portuguese were then trying to expel the French, who had founded a short-lived colony known as Antarctic France on an island in the bay. The settlement later became wealthy from the export of gold and sugar, and in 1763 it replaced Salvador as the capital of colonial Brazil. It remained the capital of the empire and republic until Brasilia took over that role in 1960.
Before and after
- 27 May 1564Death of John Calvin
- 1565Construction of Agra Fort
- 1565The Hunters in the Snow
- from 1565 to 1898Spanish–Moro conflict
- 11 March 1565Founding of Rio de Janeiro
- 19 June 1566Birth of James VI and I
- from 6 August 1566 to 8 September 1566Siege of Szigetvár
- 6 September 1566Death of Suleiman the Magnificent
- 1567Construction of Stari Most
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 15th century to 18th centuryAge of Discovery
- from c. 1583 to 1997British Empire
- from 16th century to 18th centuryBaroque
- from 1616 to 1912Qing dynasty
- 1623Founding of Barbados
- from 22 October 1721 to 1 September 1917Russian Empire
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.